Evaluation of a method for proactively managing the evolving scope of a software product line

Context and motivation: PLEvo-Scoping is a method intended to help Product Line (PL) scoping teams anticipate emergent features and distinguish unstable from stable features, with the aim of preparing their PL for likely future adaptation needs. Question/ problem: This paper describes a quasi-experiment performed to characterize PLEvo-Scoping in terms of adequacy and feasibility. Principal ideas/ results: This quasi-experiment was performed by two scoping teams in charge of scoping the same PL, where one scoping team applied first an existing PL scoping approach and then PLEvo-Scoping, while the other scoping team interweaved activities from both. The two approaches achieved similar results: The method could be applied in just one day, and it was considered adequate and feasible. Contribution: Ideas on how to improve the method and its tool support have been obtained, and similar results are expected from other professionals facing the problem of evolution-centered PL scoping. However, further empirical studies should be performed.