conquest 2009 - iSQI

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Greetings
... Greeting from Ina Schieferdecker
of duplicated work. At first, they realized that copies and/
or duplicated developments are not an economic option.
Standardization is a well-established means to manifest
the knowledge in a field, to enable effective new developments
on a higher technical level just by reuse and inclusion
of existing work, and to prevent errors being repeated
and fixes not being spread in the field. Along with object
and component orientation, standardized libraries were
envisioned but did not become reality. With model orientation,
we discuss comparable ideas of sharing information
and know-how in form of models – and again it will only
become possible if we stop thinking that one is the only one
that can solve a specific problem although it was solved
that many times before. If we manage to install engineering
discipline and culture within software technologies, we
are better off at the end – despite tighter constraints that
we impose. Then, we would need new practical methods
for interoperable software components, which are not only
technical but semantically interoperable. We would need
effective methods for composition and integration and
corresponding efficient methods for verification and validation.
Other development processes would be needed:
making explicit the review, selection and integration of existing
components. There is none for the moment, even the
revised V-model XT does not address this.
Let me conclude by repeating our wish to make CONQUEST
the place where pressing issues in software development,
evolution and quality assurance are discussed on a high
technical level with clear links to industrial adoption. I am
sure it would be more compelling to address open issues
even if we do no have final solutions but that will allow us
to further the software quality engineering field. I also vote
for less ignorance to other engineering fields to learn from
others and to advance our field faster. Despite the differences
of software, the aim to design, construct and develop
systems that finally meet the quality requirements put
forward by users, stakeholders, manufacturers and alike
unifies all engineers.
Let us have interesting exchanges of point of views, of
results, of new developments and let us work together at
strengthening software quality engineering into a matured
engineering discipline.
Yours,
Ina Schieferdecker
Fraunhofer FOKUS
Greetings
Greeting from Stephan Goericke
CONQUEST Organizer
Ladies and gentlemen,
As Director of the International Software Quality Institute I
am glad to welcome you to this year’s Conference on Quality
Engineering in Software Technology (CONQUEST). Over
50 speakers contribute to the program that shows the status
quo of the current professional debate. The talks were
chosen by a program committee consisting of 20 members
from 18 countries. Our special appreciation goes to these
reviewers and all the authors who handed in their papers.
The CONQUEST is held for the 12th time now. Experts from
all over the world can rely on the tradition of having a highquality
program for the conference often referred to as
“class reunion of the software developer scene”; it goes
without saying that professional discussions, new ideas
and networking will have an excellent framework. In 2009
we have decided to return to our roots in Nuremberg to
mark this tradition.
Over a decade ago the cry for “Setting Quality Standards”
resounded from Nuremberg. Stemming from this idea, a
globally successful model of worldwide quality assurance
in software development ensued. The CONQUEST has always
promoted and inspired this development.
I would like to address a particular thanks to the Software
Community – the visitors of our conference; a worldwide
network of experts who work persistently and devotedly
for the continuing improvement of the product quality in a
field that is of ever increasing impact to the current market.
The key to success lies in the high-level and always up-todate
qualification of those who develop and test software.
The International Software Quality Institute has – in cooperation
with its partners – developed and established a
broad spectrum of certified further education schemes, so
that different competencies can be proved in a recognized
and standardized way.
I am very happy to see that the partners and participants of
our conference have not been put off by the current difficult
situation on the international markets. They have enabled
us to hold the CONQUEST in the high quality you are used to.
The stability of networks and connections is put to the test
in hard times like these. We have passed this test, because
we know that only exchange, only the further development
of our competencies, only the steady improvement of our
quality can guarantee us economical stability. In times of
crisis it is essential to invest in qualification. Therefore it is
the right decision to visit the CONQUEST now: Not instead
of, but precisely because of the current circumstances.
Representatives of politics are aware of the impact of our
conference on its location and the industry as such. Thus
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