Verification and validation of software process simulation models: A systematic mapping study

Y Li, H Zhang, B Liu, L Dong, H Gong… - Journal of Software …, 2024 - Wiley Online Library
Y Li, H Zhang, B Liu, L Dong, H Gong, G Rong
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process, 2024Wiley Online Library
Software process simulation models (SPSMs) that are based on descriptive process models
offer the executability that can demonstrate dynamic changes of software processes over
time. Verification and validation (V&V) is critical in SPSMs for guaranteeing the quality and
reliability of models. V&V of dynamic software process models is more complex and
challenging than for static software process models. This work systematically summarizes
and maps V&V studies in SPSM to provide guidelines for future research and practice …
Abstract
Software process simulation models (SPSMs) that are based on descriptive process models offer the executability that can demonstrate dynamic changes of software processes over time. Verification and validation (V&V) is critical in SPSMs for guaranteeing the quality and reliability of models. V&V of dynamic software process models is more complex and challenging than for static software process models. This work systematically summarizes and maps V&V studies in SPSM to provide guidelines for future research and practice. Specifically, this study aims at identifying the focus of research on V&V, the methods used for V&V, and how to implement V&V of SPSMs in software engineering research. We conducted a systematic mapping study on studies of SPSMs that report on their V&V activities. Under the guidance of a V&V meta‐model for SPSMs, we study four research questions about V&V process. We identified 107 primary studies from a pool of 313 papers on SPSMs until 2021. There are two main results of our study. The first one presents the relationship between quality aspects of SPSMs and the V&V methods to assure them. The second result reveals the relationships among the modeling process, three modeling steps, five quality aspects, and 10 V&V methods. Generally, researchers do not pay sufficient attention to V&V, as 65.8% ( ) failed to mention or elaborate on their V&V process. We systematically summarize and map the state‐of‐the‐art V&V research in software process modeling field to support modelers' practice and improve their V&V process.
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