http://hdl.handle.net/2117/6167 2013-05-23T21:24:46Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19381 Title: Quark: a method to assist software architects in architectural decision-making Authors: Ameller, David; Franch Gutiérrez, Javier Abstract: Quality attributes (QAs) and constraints are among the principal drivers of architectural decision-making. QAs are improved or dam- aged by architectural decisions (ADs), while constraints directly include or exclude parts of the architecture (e.g., logical components or technologies). We may determine the impact of a AD, or which parts of the architecture are a ected by a constraint, but at the end it is hard to know if we are respecting the quality requirements (requirements over the QAs) and the imposed constraints with all the ADs made. In the usual approach, architects use their own experience to produce software architectures that comply with the expected quality requirements and imposed constraints, but at the end, especially for crucial decisions, the architect has to deal with complex trade-o s between QAs and juggle with possible incompatibilities raised by the imposed constraints. In this paper we present Quark, a method to assist software architects in architectural decision-making, and the conceptualization of the relationship between QRs and ADs de ned in Arteon, an ontology to represent and manage architectural knowledge. Finally, we also give an insight into the Quark and Arteon implementation, the ArchiTech tool. 2013-05-23T12:36:44Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19367 Title: Moodbile: a Moodle web services extension for mobile applications Authors: Piguillem Poch, Jordi; Alier Forment, Marc; Casany Guerrero, María José; Mayol Sarroca, Enric; Galanis, Nikolaos; García Peñalvo, Francisco Javier; Conde García, Miguel Ángel Abstract: The Moodle 2.0 Web Services architecture has been designed to optimize bulk operations or administrative tasks. Therefore, it does not support external applications accessing activity modules. For this reason, the Moodbile project aims to provide an extension of the Moodle 2.0 Web Services architecture in order to provide access to external applications such as m-learning applications, from within Moodle. To validate this extension, three m-learning applications have been developed: an HTML5 client that may be used from most mobile browsers, an Android-native app and an iOS-native app. 2013-05-22T08:05:12Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19366 Title: IT or not to be: the impact of Moodle in the education of developing countries Authors: García Almiñana, Jordi; Somé, Michel; Ayguadé Parra, Eduard; Cabré Garcia, José M.; Casany Guerrero, María José; Frigola Bourlon, Manel; Galanis, Nikolaos; García-Cervigon Gutiérrez, Manuel; Guerrero Zapata, Manel; Muñoz Gracia, María del Pilar Abstract: E-learning environments, such as Moodle, provide a technology that fosters the improvement of the educational system in developed countries, where education is traditionally performed with relatively high standards of quality. A large number of case studies and research have been conducted to demonstrate how e-learning technologies can be applied to improve both training and learning processes. However, these technologies have not been proved efficient when applied to developing countries. The challenges that must be addressed in developing countries, both technological and societal, are much more complex and the possible solution margins are more constrained than those existing in the context where these technologies have been created. In this paper we show how Moodle can be used to improve the quality of education in developing countries and, even more important, how can be used to turn the educational system more sustainable and effective in the long-term. We describe our experience in implementing a programming course in Moodle for the Higher School of Informatics at the Université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso, in Burkina Faso (West Africa), joining efforts with local professors in designing and implementing the learning system. The case example has been designed having in mind a number of contextual problems: lack of lecturers, excessive teaching hours per lecturer, massive classes, and curricula organization and stability, among others. We finally discuss how the teaching effort is reduced, the students’ knowledge and capacity improves, and the institutional academic model can be guaranteed with the proposal. For this reason, we claim that information technologies in developing countries are a cost-effective way to guarantee the objectives originally defined in the academic curricula and, therefore, deal with the problem of the education. 2013-05-22T07:16:25Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19273 Title: QuPreSS: A service-oriented framework for predictive services quality assessment Authors: Martínez Fernández, Silverio Juan; Bisbal Riera, Jesús; Franch Gutiérrez, Javier Abstract: Nowadays there are lots of predictive services for several domains such as stock market and bookmakers. The value delivered by these services relies on the quality of their predictions. This paper presents QuPreSS, a general framework which measures predictive service quality and guides the selection of the most accurate predictive service. To do so, services are monitored and their predictions are compared over time by means of forecast verification with observations. A systematic literature review was performed to design a service-oriented framework architecture that fits into the current body of knowledge. The service-oriented nature of the framework makes it extensible and interoperable, being able to integrate existing services regardless their heterogeneity of platforms and languages. Finally, we also present an instantiation of the generic framework architecture for the weather forecast domain, freely available at http://gessi.lsi.upc. edu/qupress/ 2013-05-16T08:35:17Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19058 Title: Analyzing Moodle/LMS logs to measure mobile access Authors: Casany Guerrero, María José; Alier Forment, Marc; Galanis, Nikolaos; Mayol Sarroca, Enric; Piguillem Poch, Jordi Abstract: Most Educational Institutions worldwide have deployed web based Learning Management Systems (LMS) as a means to provide support for their presence-based lectures and offer online-exclusive learning. These LMSs were designed and developed for users accessing the system through web browsers on desktop computers or laptops. However, over the last years, an increasing percentage of the registered accesses to various LMS platforms have been from mobile devices such as smartphones. While tackling the problems arising through the design of a mobile client for the Open Source LMS Moodle called Moodbile, the question of how to decide which services of Moodle could be accessed from smartphones became very relevant. This paper presents a data analysis study conducted on the Moodle server logs of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC) virtual campus, Atenea, and the insight gained regarding the particular characteristics of the accesses from mobile devices. The main achievement of this study is that it provides insight of the use of the university LMS from mobile devices. 2013-05-02T08:51:08Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19030 Title: A catalogue of functional software requirement patterns for the domain of content management systems Authors: Palomares Bonache, Cristina; Quer Bosor, Maria Carme; Franch Gutiérrez, Javier; Renault, Samuel; Guerlain, Cindy Abstract: Software requirement patterns have been proposed as an artifact for fostering requirements reuse. When we define these patterns forthe functional part of a software system, we realize that most of patterns are specific of a software domain. This paper presents and analyzes a catalogue of functional software requirement patterns for the domain of content management, and gives an overview of how this catalogue has been constructed from the systematic analysis of 6 existing software specification documents with the support of expert assessment. 2013-04-29T10:30:42Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18845 Title: Extending Moodle services to mobile devices: The Moodbile Project Authors: Casany Guerrero, María José; Alier Forment, Marc; Mayol Sarroca, Enric; Piguillem Poch, Jordi; Galanis, Nikolaos; García Peñalvo, Francisco Javier; Conde González, Miguel Ángel Abstract: Learning Management Systems (LMS) are widespread among most education and training institutions. Even though LMS are a mature technology, they have left the vanguard of innovation in e-learning to mobile devices and tablets. Mobile Learning (M-learning)may enhance e-learning by increasing communication and conversation opportunities to convents the learning process more collaborative and learner-centred. This paper describes a way to integrate mobile devices and educational applications with a LMS as Moodle through web services: The Moodbile Project. Rather than just creating mobile apps that replicates LMS functionalities on a mobile device, Moodbile provides to m-learning developers with the necessary tools to allow mobile devices to interact with the LMS. In this paper, we describe our proposal of an open specification of web services to support the integration of mobile external applications with Moodle. 2013-04-17T09:29:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18844 Title: Interoperability in eLearning contexts: interaction between LMS and PLE Authors: Conde González, Miguel Ángel; García Peñalvo, Francisco Javier; Piguillem Poch, Jordi; Casany Guerrero, María José; Alier Forment, Marc Abstract: The emergence of the Information and Communication Technologies and its application in several areas with varying success, implies the definition of a great number of software systems. Such systems are implemented in very different programming languages, using distinct types of resources, etc. Learning and Teaching is one of those application areas, where there are different learning platforms, repositories, tools, types of content, etc. These systems should interoperate among them to provide better and more useful learning services to students and teachers, and to do so web services and interoperability specifications are needed. This paper presents a service-based framework approach to facilitate the interoperability between Learning Management Systems and Personal Learning Environments, which has been implemented as a proof of concept and evaluated through several pilot experiences. From such experiences it is possible to see that interoperability among the personal and institutional environments it is possible and, in this way, learners can learn independently without accessing to the institutional site and teachers have information about learning that happens in informal activities. 2013-04-17T08:54:39Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18797 Title: The application 2.0 tools through PLEs in Computer Science education: the twitter experience Authors: Conde García, Miguel Ángel; García Peñalvo, Francisco Javier; Alier Forment, Marc; Mayol Sarroca, Enric; Casany Guerrero, María José Abstract: Learners and teachers use different tools to carry out the learning activities. These instruments evolve and change, what means that learning activities are being influenced depending of the context that surrounds the educational processes. The Information and Communication Technologies application to teaching and learning processes implies a revolution regarding to the way learning and teaching is performed. However this model did not provide as many advantages as it were supposed to and a new change is necessary. Against this background rise web 2.0 tools and tendencies, which is another evolution on the way learners and teachers interact but those tools should be incorporated and adapted to the existing systems. This is not an easy task and means to take into account the users, the tools, the interoperability between learning tools, etc. Along this paper the problem of how to integrate 2.0 tools into institutional learning system is explored, specially focused on how through PLE and by using interoperability solutions it is possible to take advantage of 2.0 tools in learning and teaching processes. It is proposed a simply way to integrate such tools with the existing systems and an experience that demonstrate how to apply it. This experience is based on the use of twitter in a classroom. From that experience can be shown that the integration of 2.0 tools is not complex and improves students’ participation and motivation, which could have associated a learning improvement. 2013-04-15T14:29:17Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18551 Title: Towards a definition of SCM systems through SCOR Authors: Caldelas, Alberto; Pastor Collado, Juan Antonio Abstract: In recent years Supply Chain Management (SCM) in general and in management information systems in particular, have gained interest among researchers. However, derived from a recent analysis of the area and from many definitions used in literature, we think that there is not a clear understanding of what should be considered as a SCM system. In the same way, the minimal functional requirements for a system to be considered as an SCM information system are not yet clear. This contrasts with the existence of SCOR, a much publicised model used as standard in the SCM domain. Although SCOR does not include a definition for an SCM information system and, in fact, it leaves the system implementation at will of the companies, we think that it can be used to provide a better definition. Thus, in the present work we intent to offer a tentative definition of SCM systems based on SCOR. 2013-04-03T07:45:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18035 Title: Towards a definition of a CRM system life-cycle Authors: Bibiano, Luis H.; Pastor Collado, Juan Antonio Abstract: In recent years, the interest on research in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems has grown notoriously. Many authors have made individual proposals of interesting topics to be researched around CRM systems, but no overarching research agenda has yet been proposed. Based upon a recent research literature review that we have undertaken, which includes several real case studies conducted in order to learn from CRM experience within specific companies and industries, we propose and detail what appears to be a natural CRM Systems Life-cycle. Although a more focussed cycle has been mentioned for CRM systems implementations, we propose and define in detail a CRM Systems Life-cycle which covers other phases preceding and following implementation. We believe that such a well-defined cycle may help in future proposals of research agendas around CRM systems, as well as in the contextualization of more specific research themes. 2013-03-01T12:17:13Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18020 Title: Information systems outsourcing in public administration: an emergent research topic Authors: Marco Simó, Josep M.; Macau Nadal, Rafael; Pastor Collado, Juan Antonio Abstract: After reviewing the most relevant academic sources, we believe that there is still little academic literature on information systems (IS) outsourcing specialized for public administration (PA). In this paper we present the few we have discovered references while deriving and expanding some analysis from them. The sparse results of this analysis are then summarized and classified. This situation contrasts with the clear importance of PA as an IS consumer and often as a change leader in IS management practices, which is also depicted in the paper. As an example of what future research questions could be posed and of what findings could be expected from this research domain, we present a real IS outsourcing case of study which appears to be rather original in the approach taken by the involved PA. Hence, with all the issues outlined in this preliminary research work, we believe that it is possible to justify an interest in researching this topic and to encourage new scientific activities resulting from it, such as new proposals for PA of specific IS outsourcing frameworks, methods or in-depth case studies like the one introduced here. 2013-02-28T12:27:02Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18015 Title: Specification of failure-handling requirements as policy rules on self-adaptive systems Authors: Pimentel, João Henrique; Castro, Jaelson; Franch Gutiérrez, Javier Abstract: Most adaptive systems have compensation mechanisms for recovering from or preventing failures. However, sometimes a compensation is not essential. Hence, diagnosing and compensating each and every one of their failures may be ineffective. Rather than polluting a requirements specification with fine grained definition of failure-handling conditions, this work aims to increase the flexibility of failure handling in self-adaptive systems using tolerance policies. We allow the expression of conditions in which certain failures may be ignored – i.e., conditions on which a failure will not be compensated. Such policies may lead to reduced costs and performance improvement. The FAST framework consists of the definition of a tolerance policy, the mechanisms to evaluate this policy and a tool to aid the creation of policies. 2013-02-28T10:30:20Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18014 Title: Measuring architectural adaptability in i* models Authors: Pimentel, João Henrique; Franch Gutiérrez, Javier; Castro, Jaelson Abstract: Developing adaptable systems is still a big challenge in software engineering. Different reference architectures and systematic approaches have been proposed to address this challenge. Several of these approaches are based on goal models, given their suitability to express and reason on alternative behaviors. In this paper we intend to provide a basis for comparing architectures described in goal-based models in regard to their adaptability. This way, different approaches to improve adaptability may be compared based on the resulting architectures. To do so we mapped two adaptability metrics onto i* models and developed guidelines to define the adaptability of individual elements, based on the extra information provided by i* models. We applied these metrics in a healthcare system to illustrate the comparison of architectures. 2013-02-28T10:13:59Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18000 Title: i* modules: a jUCMNav implementation Authors: Colomer, Daniel; Franch Gutiérrez, Javier Abstract: When building large-scale goal-oriented models using the i* framework, the problem of scalability arises. Modules have been proposed to structure i* models into reusable and combinable fragments. In this work we present an implementation of the module concept over the jUCMNav tool. 2013-02-27T10:40:44Z