The Vlaams software Platform and Sirris invite you to the First interactive Seminar of the City of Requirements on November 28^th, 2007 from 14:00 to 20:00. This activity will take place in Haasrode, and is hosted by VSP member company LMS. Instead of following a traditional seminar format, this seminar will focus on the challenges you find to be the most important. After a keynote introduction to the domain given by a world class expert in requirements engineering, the audience will be given a chance to select the top three challenges they face when dealing with requirements. The second part of the event will host round table discussions of the selected top challenges, rounded up with the second keynote discussing and giving recommendations on the selected challenges, given by a panel of experts from both the industry and the research world. Participants will have the opportunity to continue the discussion with peers and experts during the networking drink.

Why should I attend?

If you find requirements and specification a relevant subject or if you are interested in challenges in requirements and specification the industry faces, then this event is relevant for you. This event will also allow you to discuss experiences, thoughts and opinions in the domain with experts and people facing similar challenges.

Which skills do I need to master?

No particular skills are required, but basic knowledge in software intensive product development can be helpful. If unsure, call us!

How do I register?

Via the online registration form on the VSP website. You can no longer register since the seminar is sold out.

If you're working for a VSP member organization, this activity is free of charge. Entrance fees for participants not affiliated to the VSP are 150€ (excl. 21% VAT). Participants receive an account on the City of Requirements online community.

Programme

13:30	Registration
14:00	Welcome Jan Leuridan, chairman of the Vlaams Software Platform
14:10	The City of Requirements at a Glance Olivier Biot (Sirris) The start of the Summer also meant the official launch of the City of Requirements, an online community on requirements and specification of software intensive systems. It is run by Sirris in close collaboration with the Vlaams Software Platform. It aims to tackle the following question: "Do software engineers understand each other in requirements and specification?".
14:20	Keynote: Requirements Engineering: What, Why and How?  Axel van Lamsweerde (UCL) Poor software requirements have been recurrently recognized to be the major cause of project cost overruns, delivery delays, failure to meet expectations, or severe degradations in the environment controlled by the software. This talk will introduce what requirements engineering (RE) is about and discuss why RE for mission-critical systems is difficult and critical. A multi-view model-based approach to RE will be outlined to address many of the challenges raised by this activity.
15:00	Requirements engineering challenges in the industry Tom Tourwé (Sirris) Notwithstanding the availability of a broad state of the art, companies that build software intensive products still face many challenges with respect to requirements and specification. Input from the members of the City of Requirements has been consolidated into an overview of common challenges.
15:20	Break This break gives participants the opportunity to select their most relevant challenges.
15:50	Round table sessions on the selected top 3 challenges These interactive sessions with peers allow the participants to express their view on the importance of these top challenges and how they affect their day to day activities.
17:10	Expert view on the top three challenges Axel van Lamsweerde (UCL), Patrick Heymans (FUNDP), Patrick Steyaert (Prosource), Johan Peeters (independent consultant) Four experts share their view on the top 3 challenges.
18:00	Networking drink Courtesy of LMS International.