Investigating Professionals’ Perceptions on the Software Supply Network Model in a Proprietary Educational Software Ecosystem
Resumo
Research Context: Modeling helps understand the structure, actors, and interactions in software ecosystems (SECO). The software supply network (SSN) is one of the best-known SECO modeling notations. In a previous study, we proposed an SSN model for a proprietary educational SECO, namely the SOLAR SECO, and identified the need to analyze this SSN model from the professionals’ perceptions. Scientific and/or Practical Problem: The practical use of SSN models is still poorly explored, and little is known about how professionals perceive and apply them in real SECO. Proposed Analysis: This work analyzes this SSN model based on professionals’ perceptions to identify issues and challenges. Related IS Theory: Socio-technical Theory, which explains the way the interaction between social and technical elements affects professionals’ perceptions and use of artifacts, such as the SSN model. Research Method: We applied a questionnaire and conducted semi-structured interviews, analyzing the responses qualitatively. Summary of Results: Professionals perceived the model as useful for visualizing actors and supporting communication, but not for identifying new functionalities. Contributions and Impact to IS area: This study offers empirical evidence and a methodological procedure to support modeling and analysis of other SECO cases.Referências
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Costa, L. A., Fontão, A., and Santos, R. (2022). Toward proprietary software ecosystem governance strategies based on health metrics. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 69(6):3589–3603.
Coutinho, E. and Bezerra, C. (2020). A study on dynamic aspects variability in the solar educational software ecosystem. Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society, 26(1):1–19.
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Malcher, P., Silva, E., Viana, D., and Santos, R. (2023). What do we know about requirements management in software ecosystems? Requirements Engineering, 28(4):567–593.
Manikas, K. (2016). Revisiting software ecosystems research: A longitudinal literature study. Journal of Systems and Software, 117:84–103.
Manikas, K. and Hansen, K. M. (2013). Software ecosystems – a systematic literature review. Journal of Systems and Software, 86(5):1294–1306.
Nakagawa, E. Y., Antonino, P. O., Galster, M., and Kuhn, T. (2023). Future Advances in Reference Architectures, pages 199–211. Springer International Publishing, Cham.
Pant, V. and Eric, S. (2017). Understanding strategic moves and reciprocity on software ecosystems: A strategic modeling approach. In Hyrynsalmi, S., Suominen, A., Jud, C., and Bosch, J., editors, 9th International Workshop on Software Ecosystems (IWSECO), pages 28–42, Espoo, Finland.
Pettersson, O., Svensson, M., Gil, D., Andersson, J., and Milrad, M. (2010). On the role of software process modeling in software ecosystem design. In Fourth European Conference on Software Architecture: Companion Volume, page 103–110, NY, USA.
Pfleeger, S. L. and Kitchenham, B. A. (2001). Principles of survey research: Part 1: Turning lemons into lemonade. SIGSOFT Softw. Eng. Notes, 26(6):16–18.
Pinheiro, F., Coutinho, E., Lima, R., Silva, M., Bezerra, C., and Andrade, R. (2025). Ecos modeling: A modeling tool, repository for models and evolution analysis of software ecosystems. In Anais do XXI Simpósio Brasileiro de Sistemas de Informação, pages 369–378, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. SBC.
Sadi, M. and Yu, E. (2015). Designing software ecosystems: How can modeling techniques help? In Gaaloul, K., Schmidt, R., Nurcan, S., Guerreiro, S., and Ma, Q., editors, Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling, pages 360–375. Springer International Publishing, Cham.
Schwichtenberg, B. and Engels, G. (2020). Secoarc: A framework for architecting healthy software ecosystems. In Muccini, H., Avgeriou, P., Buhnova, B., Camara, J., Caporuscio, M., Franzago, M., Koziolek, A., Scandurra, P., Trubiani, C., Weyns, D., and Zdun, U., editors, Software Architecture, pages 95–106, Cham. Springer.
Seidl, C. and Aßmann, U. (2013). Towards modeling and analyzing variability in evolving software ecosystems. In 7th International Workshop on Variability Modelling of Software-Intensive Systems, New York, NY, USA.
Trist, E. L. (1981). The evolution of socio-technical systems, volume 2. Ontario Quality of Working Life Centre Toronto.
Van Angeren, J., Kabbedijk, J., Jansen, S., and Popp, K. M. (2011). A survey of associate models used within large software ecosystems. In Jansen, S., Bosch, J., Campbell, P., and Ahmed, F., editors, Third International Workshop on Software Ecosystems, pages 27–39, Brussels, Belgium.
Zacarias, R. O., Antunes, L. C. R., de Oliveira Barros, M., dos Santos, R. P., and Lago, P. (2025). Exploring developer experience factors in software ecosystems. Journal of Systems and Software, 230:112549.
Alves, C., Oliveira, J., and Jansen, S. (2018). Understanding governance mechanisms and health in software ecosystems: A systematic literature review. In Hammoudi, S., Śmiałek, M., Camp, O., and Filipe, J., editors, Enterprise Information Systems, pages 517–542, Cham. Springer International Publishing.
Barbosa, O., Santos, R. P., Alves, C., Werner, C., and Jansen, S. (2013). A systematic mapping study on software ecosystems from a three-dimensional perspective. In Jansen, S., Brinkkemper, S., and Cusumano, M., editors, Software Ecosystems: Analyzing and Managing Business Networks in the Software Industry, pages 59–81. Cheltenham, UK.
Boscarioli, C., Araújo, R., and Suzana, R. (2017). Grand research challenges in information systems in brazil 2016–2026, volume 5. Brazilian Computer Society.
Boucharas, V., Jansen, S., and Brinkkemper, S. (2009). Formalizing software ecosystem modeling. In 1st International Workshop on Open Component Ecosystems, page 41–50, New York, NY, USA.
Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. Sage Publications, London.
Costa, G., Silva, F., Santos, R., Werner, C., and Oliveira, T. (2013). From applications to a software ecosystem platform: An exploratory study. In Fifth International Conference on Management of Emergent Digital EcoSystems, page 9–16, New York, NY, USA.
Costa, L. A., Fontão, A., and Santos, R. (2022). Toward proprietary software ecosystem governance strategies based on health metrics. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 69(6):3589–3603.
Coutinho, E. and Bezerra, C. (2020). A study on dynamic aspects variability in the solar educational software ecosystem. Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society, 26(1):1–19.
Coutinho, E. F., Viana, D., and Santos, R. (2017). An exploratory study on the need for modeling software ecosystems: The case of solar seco. In 2017 IEEE/ACM 9th International Workshop on Modelling in Software Engineering (MiSE), pages 47–53, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dhungana, D., Groher, I., Schludermann, E., and Biffl, S. (2010). Software ecosystems vs. natural ecosystems: Learning from the ingenious mind of nature. In Fourth European Conference on Software Architecture: Companion Volume, page 96–102, New York, NY, USA. ACM.
Handoyo, E., Jansen, S., and Brinkkemper, S. (2013). Software ecosystem modeling: The value chains. In Fifth International Conference on Management of Emergent Digital EcoSystems, MEDES ’13, page 17–24, New York, NY, USA. ACM.
Hanssen, G. K. and Dybå, T. (2012). Theoretical foundations of software ecosystems. In 4th International Workshop on Software Ecosystems, in Conjunction with the 3rd International Conference on Software Business, pages 6–17. CEUR-WS.org.
Hove, S. and Anda, B. (2005). Experiences from conducting semi-structured interviews in empirical software engineering research. In 11th IEEE International Software Metrics Symposium (METRICS’05), pages 10 pp.–23, Como, Italy.
Jansen, S. (2020). A focus area maturity model for software ecosystem governance. Information and Software Technology, 118:106219.
Jansen, S., Cusumano, M., and Popp, K. M. (2019). Managing software platforms and ecosystems. IEEE Software, 36(3):17–21.
Jansen, S., Handoyo, E., and Alves, C. (2015). Scientists’ needs in modelling software ecosystems. In 2015 European Conference on Software Architecture Workshops, New York, NY, USA.
Kan, V., Lnu, M., Berhe, S., El Kari, C., Maynard, M., and Khomh, F. (2025). Automated uml visualization of software ecosystems: Tracking versions, dependencies, and security updates. Procedia Computer Science, 257:834–841. The 16th International Conference on Ambient Systems, Networks and Technologies Networks (ANT)/ the 8th International Conference on Emerging Data and Industry 4.0 (EDI40).
Kitchenham, B. and Pfleeger, S. (2008). Personal Opinion Surveys, pages 63–92. Springer London, London.
Kitchenham, B. A., Budgen, D., and Brereton, P. (2015). Evidence-based software engineering and systematic reviews, volume 4. CRC Press, London.
Knauss, A., Borici, A., Knauss, E., and Damian, D. (2012). Towards understanding requirements engineering in it ecosystems. In 2012 Second IEEE International Workshop on Empirical Requirements Engineering (EmpiRE), pages 33–36, Chicago, IL, USA.
Malcher, P., Gonçalves, R. F., Fernandes, J. C., Coutinho, E., Rivero, L., Viana, D., and dos Santos, R. P. (2025). Supplementary material of investigating professionals’ perceptions on the software supply network model in a proprietary educational software ecosystem. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18473097.
Malcher, P., Silva, E., Viana, D., and Santos, R. (2023). What do we know about requirements management in software ecosystems? Requirements Engineering, 28(4):567–593.
Manikas, K. (2016). Revisiting software ecosystems research: A longitudinal literature study. Journal of Systems and Software, 117:84–103.
Manikas, K. and Hansen, K. M. (2013). Software ecosystems – a systematic literature review. Journal of Systems and Software, 86(5):1294–1306.
Nakagawa, E. Y., Antonino, P. O., Galster, M., and Kuhn, T. (2023). Future Advances in Reference Architectures, pages 199–211. Springer International Publishing, Cham.
Pant, V. and Eric, S. (2017). Understanding strategic moves and reciprocity on software ecosystems: A strategic modeling approach. In Hyrynsalmi, S., Suominen, A., Jud, C., and Bosch, J., editors, 9th International Workshop on Software Ecosystems (IWSECO), pages 28–42, Espoo, Finland.
Pettersson, O., Svensson, M., Gil, D., Andersson, J., and Milrad, M. (2010). On the role of software process modeling in software ecosystem design. In Fourth European Conference on Software Architecture: Companion Volume, page 103–110, NY, USA.
Pfleeger, S. L. and Kitchenham, B. A. (2001). Principles of survey research: Part 1: Turning lemons into lemonade. SIGSOFT Softw. Eng. Notes, 26(6):16–18.
Pinheiro, F., Coutinho, E., Lima, R., Silva, M., Bezerra, C., and Andrade, R. (2025). Ecos modeling: A modeling tool, repository for models and evolution analysis of software ecosystems. In Anais do XXI Simpósio Brasileiro de Sistemas de Informação, pages 369–378, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. SBC.
Sadi, M. and Yu, E. (2015). Designing software ecosystems: How can modeling techniques help? In Gaaloul, K., Schmidt, R., Nurcan, S., Guerreiro, S., and Ma, Q., editors, Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling, pages 360–375. Springer International Publishing, Cham.
Schwichtenberg, B. and Engels, G. (2020). Secoarc: A framework for architecting healthy software ecosystems. In Muccini, H., Avgeriou, P., Buhnova, B., Camara, J., Caporuscio, M., Franzago, M., Koziolek, A., Scandurra, P., Trubiani, C., Weyns, D., and Zdun, U., editors, Software Architecture, pages 95–106, Cham. Springer.
Seidl, C. and Aßmann, U. (2013). Towards modeling and analyzing variability in evolving software ecosystems. In 7th International Workshop on Variability Modelling of Software-Intensive Systems, New York, NY, USA.
Trist, E. L. (1981). The evolution of socio-technical systems, volume 2. Ontario Quality of Working Life Centre Toronto.
Van Angeren, J., Kabbedijk, J., Jansen, S., and Popp, K. M. (2011). A survey of associate models used within large software ecosystems. In Jansen, S., Bosch, J., Campbell, P., and Ahmed, F., editors, Third International Workshop on Software Ecosystems, pages 27–39, Brussels, Belgium.
Zacarias, R. O., Antunes, L. C. R., de Oliveira Barros, M., dos Santos, R. P., and Lago, P. (2025). Exploring developer experience factors in software ecosystems. Journal of Systems and Software, 230:112549.
Publicado
25/05/2026
Como Citar
MALCHER, Paulo; FEITOSA, Rodrigo; FERNANDES, Juliana Costa; COUTINHO, Emanuel; RIVERO, Luis; VIANA, Davi; SANTOS, Rodrigo Pereira dos.
Investigating Professionals’ Perceptions on the Software Supply Network Model in a Proprietary Educational Software Ecosystem. In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE SISTEMAS DE INFORMAÇÃO (SBSI), 22. , 2026, Vitória/ES.
Anais [...].
Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação,
2026
.
p. 497-516.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/sbsi.2026.248559.
