On the Benefits and Barriers when adopting Software Modelling and Model Driven Techniques - An external, differentiated replication

Context: Applying model driven techniques can lead to several benefits, but their adoption entails also numerous issues. Goal: We aim at understanding the benefits and barriers on the adoption of the modelling techniques for embedded systems developed in a large German research project. Method: We replicate a survey conducted in the Italian industry about relevance, benefits, and problems of software modelling and model driven techniques. Results: With respect to the original study, we could confirm design support and quality of software as achieved benefits. On the side of the barriers, too much effort required, lack of competencies and lack of supporting tools were confirmed. Other barriers were confirmed as not having an impact: refusal from management, cost of supporting tool, fear of lock-in. Conclusions: We observed that even for the not mature modelling techniques in our context of study, a few benefits and a large number of barriers (or lack of) reported in the original study and in literature were confirmed.