@article {Simula.SE.401,
	title = {A Customizable Pattern-Based Software Process Simulation Model: Design, Calibration and Application},
	journal = {Software Process: Improvement and Practice},
	volume = {14},
	number = {3},
	year = {2009},
	pages = {165-180},
	publisher = {John Wiley \& Sons},
	abstract = {Software process analysis and improvement relies heavily on empirical research. Em-pirical research requires measurement, experimentation, and modeling. However, what-ever evidence is gained via empirical research is strongly context dependent. Thus, it is hard to combine results and capitalize upon them for the purpose of improvement in evolving development environments. The process simulation model GENSIM 2.0, ad-dresses these challenges. GENSIM 2.0 is a generic process simulation tool representing V-model type software development processes. Compared to existing process simula-tion models in the literature, the novelty of GENSIM 2.0 is twofold. Firstly, its model structure is customizable to organization-specific processes. This is achieved by using a limited set of generic structures (macro-patterns). Secondly, its model parameters can be easily calibrated to available empirical data and expert knowledge. This is achieved by making the internal model structures explicit and by providing guidance on how to cali-brate model parameters. This article outlines the structure of GENSIM 2.0, gives exam-ples on how to calibrate the model to available empirical data, and demonstrates its use-fulness through two application scenarios The first scenario illustrates how GENSIM 2.0 helps finding effective combinations of verification and validation techniques under given time and effort constraints. The second scenario shows how the simulator sup-ports finding the best combination of alternative verification techniques.},
	doi = {10.1002/spip.411},
	author = {Garousi, Vahid and Khosrovian, Keyvan and Pfahl, Dietmar}
}
@techreport {Simula.SE.253,
	title = {Application Scenarios for a Customizable System Dynamics Simulation Model of Generic Software Development Processes},
	number = {University of Calgary SERG-2007-09 and Simula TR 2008-03},
	year = {2008},
	publisher = {University of Calgary and Simula Research Laboratory},
	abstract = {GENSIM 2.0 is a customizable system dynamics simulation model of generic software development processes which takes as input specifics of software development projects (e.g. size of the code document, headcount of the developer team and their skills) and generates as output a broad range of distinct variables (e.g. software product quality, total project effort) of interest to different users of the model. This technical report is dedicated to illustrate example scenarios of the application of GENSIM 2.0 to address software development process issues. Firstly, it is shown how GENSIM 2.0 could be used to find the most suitable combination of verification and validation techniques in order to achieve defined time, quality and cost goals in a given context. Secondly, it is used to figure out the most promising investments in a development project\&$\#$39;s workforce. These scenarios represent only a small subset of the numerous situations that GENSIM 2.0 can be applied to.},
	author = {Khosrovian, Keyvan and Pfahl, Dietmar and Garousi, Vahid}
}
@techreport {Simula.SE.249,
	title = {Calibrating a Customizable System Dynamics Simulation Model of Generic Software Development Processes},
	number = {University of Calgary SERG 2007-08 and Simula TR 2008-02},
	year = {2008},
	publisher = {University of Calgary and Simula Research Laboratory},
	abstract = {GENSIM 2.0 is a customizable system dynamics simulation model of generic software development processes which takes as input the specifics of software development projects (e.g. size of the code document, headcount of the developer team and their skills) and generates as output a broad range of distinct variables (e.g. software product quality, total project effort) of interest to different users of the model. This technical report is dedicated to elaborate on current calibration of GENSIM 2.0, its calibration parameters and the source from which they can be potentially calibrated.},
	author = {Khosrovian, Keyvan and Pfahl, Dietmar and Garousi, Vahid}
}
@techreport {Simula.SE.237,
	title = {GENSIM 2.0: a Customizable Process Simulation Model for Software Process Evaluation},
	year = {2008},
	publisher = {University of Calgary and Simula Research Laboratory},
	abstract = {Software process analysis and improvement relies heavily on empirical research. Empirical research requires measurement, experimentation, and modeling. However, whatever evidence is gained via empirical research is strongly context dependent. Thus, it is hard to combine results and capitalize upon them in order to improve software development processes in evolving development environments. The process simulation model GENSIM 2.0 addresses the challenge mentioned above. Compared to existing process simulation models in the literature, the novelty of GENSIM 2.0 is twofold: (1) Model structure is customizable to organization-specific processes. This is achieved by using a limited set of generic structures (macro-patterns). (2) Model parameters can be easily calibrated to available empirical data and ex-pert knowledge. This is achieved by making the internal model structures explicit and by providing guidance on how to calibrate model parameters. This technical report explains the overall structure of GENSIM 2.0, its internal mechanisms, and its parameters.},
	author = {Khosrovian, Keyvan and Pfahl, Dietmar and Garousi, Vahid}
}
@inproceedings {Simula.SE.209,
	title = {GENSIM 2.0: a Customizable Process Simulation Model for Software Process Evaluation},
	journal = {International Conference on Software Process (ICSP 2008)},
	year = {2008},
	pages = {294-306},
	publisher = {Springer},
	type = {Conference},
	isbn = {978-3-540-79587-2},
	author = {Khosrovian, Keyvan and Pfahl, Dietmar and Garousi, Vahid},
	editor = {Wang, Q. and Pfahl, D. and Raffo, D.}
}
@mastersthesis {Simula.SE.381,
	title = {Software Process Evaluation Using a Customizable Pattern-Based Simulator},
	year = {2008},
	publisher = {Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary},
	type = {masters},
	abstract = {Software process analysis and improvement relies heavily on empirical research. However, controlled experiments and surveys as means of empirical research have two major drawbacks. First, whatever evidence is gained via empirical research is strongly context dependent. Second, they are costly. Software process simulation modeling supports empirical studies by both reducing the cost of experimentation, and facilitating the combination of isolated empirical evidence. The process simulation model GENSIM 2.0, developed as part of this work, addresses the above challenges. Compared to the existing process simulation models in the literature, the novelty of GENSIM 2.0 is twofold: (1) Model structure is customizable to organization-specific development processes. This is achieved by using a limited set of generic structures (macro-patterns). (2) Model parameters can be easily calibrated to available empirical data and expert knowledge. This is achieved by making the internal model structures explicit and by providing guidance on how to calibrate the model parameters. The main achievements of the work are: Generic structures of software development processes referred to as macro-patterns, GENSIM 2.0, a customizable software process simulator developed based on the proposed macro-patterns and the V-Model lifecycle and complete and detailed description of the calibration of the simulator. This work also presents examples of useful application scenarios of the simulator including finding the best combination of Verification and Validation (V\&V) techniques with respect to specific time, quality and effort goals and analyzing the effect of the project staffing profile on its performance.},
	author = {Khosrovian, Keyvan}
}
