Call for papers

    2nd International Workshop on Models and Processes for the Evaluation of 
		    Off-the-shelf Components (MPEC'05)

                http://www.lsi.upc.edu/events/mpec
                          May 21, 2005
                     St. Louis, Missouri, USA

                  In conjunction with ICSE'05 - 
	      27th IEEE Intl' Conference on Software Engineering


Off-the-shelf software components (COTS, GOTS, open source systems, etc.) play
an increasingly important role in service-oriented software systems 
development. Successful development of this type of systems requires a unique 
set of activities to be performed, in particular, the evaluation of components.
This activity is one of the cornerstones in effectively using off-the-shelf 
components, due to the critical role it plays in the selection, implementation
and cost modeling of components. The evaluation activity is is becoming even 
more critical, in the presence of the ever-growing number of component domains
and products available, despite the inherent complexity associated with it. 
Inevitably, there is an urgent need of the models for representing evaluation 
criteria and the evaluations themselves, as well as the processes to conduct 
the evaluation. After the successful celebration of the 1st MPEC workshop, 
held jointly with ICSE'04, we aim at celebrating a 2nd edition for 
consolidating results, examining open issues, identifying new topics, etc.


TOPICS

We welcome the submission of papers in all aspects of models and processes for
off-the-shelf components, including the following (but are not limited to):
* Formal representation of evaluation criteria (ontologies, data models, etc.)
* Definition and use of software quality models for representing quality 
  criteria 
* Dealing with non-technical criteria (supplier characteristics, legal issues,
  etc.) 
* Requirements-driven vs. reusable off-the-shelf components evaluation 
* Off-the-shelf component maintainability (especially dealing with versions) 
* Reusability of (parts of) off-the-shelf component evaluations 
* Evaluation data bases 
* Third-party organizations and their impact on business processes 
* Particularities of types of off-the-shelf component (COTS, OSS, GOTS, etc.) 
* Certification of off-the-shelf components 
* Off-the-shelf component supplier involvement in the evaluation process 
* Definition, validation and examples of software metrics 
* Metrics definition processes and techniques (GQM, etc.) 
* Methods, processes and techniques involving off-the-shelf evaluation 
* Actors involved in the off-the-shelf evaluation process 
* Impact of component granularity, domain and organization type and size in 
  the evaluation process 
* Case studies in off-the-shelf component evaluation 
* Tool-support for off-the-shelf component evaluation 


TYPES OF CONTRIBUTION

Research papers, experience reports and tool-support descriptions should be 
original work, limited to 4 proceedings pages in ACM format, and with maximum
150 words for the abstract. Acceptance criteria will be adequacy to the topics
of the workshop, technical soundness and potential for generating discussion.
Position papers may not exceed 4 pages in ACM format. The aim of a position 
paper is to contribute a specific position to a research discussion. Position 
papers are judged on novelty, sensibility of the viewpoint, key insights, and 
relevant research results. Radical and unconventional ideas are welcomed. 
All paper submissions will be refereed by the PC as well as by other authors. 
Authors are requested to present their accepted paper at the workshop. 
Information about the submission process is available through the Workshop
web site (http://www.lsi.upc.edu/events/mpec).


IMPORTANT DATES

  Papers due:                      28 February 2005  ***EXTENDED***
  Acceptance notification:         21 March 2005  
  Publication-ready copy:           1 April


WORKSHOP CO-CHAIRS

Lawrence Chung, UTD, USA
Xavier Franch, UPC, Catalunya, Spain (franch@lsi.upc.edu - Contact Person)
Neil Maiden, City Univ., UK

PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Kendra Cooper, UTD, USA
Jean-Christophe Mielnik, Thales, France
Cornelius Ncube, City Univ., UK
Patricia Oberndorf, SEI-CMU, USA
Carme Quer, UPC, Catalunya, Spain
Marco Torchiano, Polit. Torino, Italy