Getting the Best out of Software Process Simulation and Empirical Research in Software Engineering

This position paper sets out our views on the need to use simulation and quantitative experiments in combination in order to maximise the benefit of both to software engineering research. Each approach should be used to overcome weaknesses in the other in attempting to predict the behaviour of software processes when new or modified processes, tools or techniques are employed. We also express our concern at the frequently-encountered use of the term ´experiment´ to describe quantitative simulation-based investigations.