AOMP: Agent-Oriented Software Engineering Methodologies and Processes
Track of the 24th Edition ACM Symposium on Applied Computing
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, March 8 -12, 2009

http://www.apice.unibo.it/xwiki/bin/view/AOMP/

http://www.acm.org/conferences/sac/sac2009/

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AOSE methodologies have been studied since 2000. Traditionally the focus was only onto one of the methodologies?characteristics: workproducts. Investigations on another fundamental characteristic ? the process - have been proposed only recently. The aims of this track are the deeper investigations of AOSE methodologies and their underpinned processes. The investigation has started from the idea that an ideal general-purpose AOSE methodology and an ideal general-purpose AOSE process do not exist. The AOSE methodologies proposed in literature in the last years typically are special purpose methodologies with the aim of engineering specific kinds of complex system, and no general purpose AOSE methodology was proposed. Now there is the need to build new methodologies for new kinds of applications domain (like for example the self-* domain), but the constructions of a new methodology from scratch is a very complex and time-consuming task. So, the reuse of portions of well-tested and well-known methodologies has become very important. Moreover, key factors for the success of new methodologies can often be found in the clear definition of their scope, in the identification of a precise application and development context and in the adoption of a proper formalisation of the approach. In this track we aim at studying all the elements that affect the construction of a new design process from the features it aims to exhibit to the final evaluation of the result also including adopted modelling languages, techniques and specific methods.


TOPICS OF INTEREST
The list of most relevant topics includes, but it is not limited to:

* Methodologies for agent-oriented analysis and design
* Agent-Oriented Software Engineering
* Design of software development processes
* Situational Method Engineering techniques for AOSE design processes
* Relationships between MAS meta-models and their relative AOSE methodologies
* Relationships between AOSE processes and the other traditional processes (e.g. OO)
* Relationship between AOSE methodologies (processes) and MAS Infrastructures
* Meta-modelling techniques
* Software development process models
* Fragment definitions and descriptions
* Integration of agent-oriented methodologies and processes
* Approaches for AOSE methodologies: design patterns, components, and architectures
* MAS Product Lines
* Supporting tools for AOSE methodologies/processes construction and enactment
* Standardisation for AOSE methodologies and processes
* Self-* approaches in AOSE methodologies and processes



Important Dates:
Aug. 16, 2008 (strict): Paper submissions
Oct. 11, 2008: Author notification
Oct. 25, 2008: Camera-Ready Copy


Paper Publication
All papers will be fully refereed and undergo a blind review process by at least three referees. The conference proceedings will be published by ACM. Hence, all accepted papers should be submitted in ACM 2-column camera-ready format for publication in the symposium proceedings. Authors are allowed up to 8 pages according to the template, but more than 5 pages in the camera ready will be charged with 80USD per extra page. Please follow the rules in the web site.


Organising Committee:
Massimo Cossentino, Italy
Ambra Molesini, Italy
Andrea Omicini, Italy
Valeria Seidita, Italy