Simulation modelling practices of ProSim03 participants: A survey

Despite the increasing interest in software process simulation, the literature does not report the use of a formal process for software process simulation model development. We report the results of a preliminary survey of how people go about developing simulation models of software processes. We discuss potential issues that may arise because of an informal or ad hoc process for model development e.g. model quality, inadequate management, poor communication etc. We conducted a survey of simulation model development practices at the ProSim03 workshop. The results from this preliminary investigation are interesting and bring many issues into focus. The majority of the participants say that they have a systematic process for model development. The majority of participants' perceptions are that the provision of a formal modelling process coupled with model evaluation is the most urgent issue to be addressed in software process simulation modelling