Dr. Marcela Ruiz

Personal profile

Management role

dep. Head of Research/Focus Area, Software Engineering

Position at the ZHAW

Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Software Engineering

www.zhaw.ch/en/engineering/institutes-centres/init/software-engineering/

Expertise and research interests

Software Engineering
Requirements Engineering
Digital Transformation
Traceability Engineering
Software Development Life Cycle
Enterprise Architecture
Design Science

Educational background

I am a very enthusiastic and strongly motivated researcher in software engineering. My main focus is on software traceability for developing high quality software products.

Since I found combining different study fields and the involvement of industrial partners leads to improved research, I strive for establishing persistent and fruitful collaborations with research groups and companies around the world. As a lecturer, I like to be creative by introducing trendy and catching material to my courses while promoting the research career of future scientists.


I hold a PhD in Computer Science by the Universitat Politécnica de Valencia (UPV, 2016), Spain. I got a bachelor degree in 2009 by the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín. Later on in 2011, I got a MSc in Software Engineering, Formal Methods and Information Systems by the Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Spain.

Some of my research interests are: information systems evolution, requirements engineering, conceptual model evolution, model-driven development, conceptual model traceability, business process modelling, goal modelling, organisational reengineering, and delta analysis for software evolution. More information: www.marcelaruiz.eu

Membership of networks

• LinkedIn
• Swiss IT Intelligence Communities
• Swiss Association for Software Quality. Requirements Engineering Expert Group
• DIZH Fellowship
• ZHAW Digital
• Zurich UAS (University of Applied Science) Racing, School of Engineering
• Swiss Informatics Society, working group on Business Informatics
• MDENet: The expert network for Model-Driven Engineering
• Association for information and communication technology (ICT) as well as digitization in the region Winterthur (WinLink)
• SheroES - community for women in tech at the School of Engineering (Intranet only

Projects

• Smart Hospital – Integrated Framework, Tools & Solutions (SHIFT) / Project leader / Project ongoing
• Exploiting User Journeys and Testing Automation for Supporting Efficient Energy Service Platforms / Team member / Project ongoing
• COSMOS – DevOps for Complex Cyber-physical Systems of Systems / Team member / Project ongoing
• Machine Learning for Software User Interface Testing / Project leader / Project completed
• Can virtual reality systems help us to design software as we talk? / Project leader / Project completed
• Interscriber: Turning Dialogues into Actionable Insights / Project leader / Project completed

Publications

• Díaz, Eduardo; Panach, José Ignacio; Rueda, Silvia; Ruiz, Marcela; Pastor, Oscar,

  2020.

  Are requirements elicitation sessions influenced by participants' gender? : an empirical experiment.

  Science of Computer Programming.

  204(102595).

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scico.2020.102595

• Pastor, Oscar; Noel, Rene; Panach, Ignacio; Ruiz, Marcela,

  2022.

  The LiteStrat modelling method : towards the alignment of strategy and code

  .

  In:

  Karagiannis, Dimitris; Moonkun, Lee; Hinkelmann, Knut; Utz, Wilfrid, eds.,

  Domain-Specific Conceptual Modeling : Concepts, Methods and ADOxx Tools.

  Cham:

  Springer.

  pp. 141-159.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93547-4_7

• Noel, Rene; Panach, Jose Ignacio; Ruiz, Marcela; Pastor, Oscar,

  2022.

  Stra2Bis : a model-driven method for aligning business strategy and business processes [paper].

  In:

  Ralyté, Jolita; Chakravarthy, Sharma; Mohania, Mukesh; Jeusfeld, Manfred A.; Karlapalem, Kamalakar, eds.,

  Conceptual Modeling.

  41st International Conference on Conceptual Modeling (ER2022), Hyderabad, India, 17-20 October 2022.

  Cham:

  Springer.

  pp. 255-270.

  Lecture Notes in Computer Science ; 13607.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17995-2_18

• Mosquera, David; Ruiz, Marcela; Pastor, Oscar; Spielberger, Jürgen; Fievet, Lucas,

  2022.

  OntoTrace : a tool for supporting trace generation in software development by using ontology-based automatic reasoning [paper].

  In:

  De Weerdt, Jochen; Polyvyanyy, Artem, eds.,

  Intelligent Information Systems.

  34th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE '22), Leuven, Belgium, 6-10 June 2022.

  Cham:

  Springer.

  pp. 73-81.

  Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ; 452.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07481-3_9

• Wahler, Michael; Conte, Enrico; Frick, Martin; Mosquera, David; Ruiz, Marcela,

  2022.

  Rapid software prototyping from business artifacts [paper].

  In:

  Bera, Palash; Dalpiaz, Fabiano; Wautelet, Yves, eds.,

  Short Paper Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Agile Methods for Information Systems Engineering (Agil-ISE 2022).

  First International Workshop on Agile Methods for Information Systems Engineering (Agil-ISE 2022), co-located with the 34th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE 2022) Leuven, Belgium, 6. June 2022.

  Aachen:

  RWTH Aachen University.

  pp. 9-14.

  CEUR Workshop Proceedings.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-25019

• Mosquera, David; Ruiz, Marcela; Pastor, Oscar; Spielberger, Jürgen,

  2022.

  Assisted-modeling requirements for model-driven development tools [paper].

  In:

  Guizzardi, Renata; Ralyté, Jolita; Franch, Xavier, eds.,

  Research Challenges in Information Science.

  16th International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science (RCIS), Barcelona, Spain, 17-20 May 2022.

  Cham:

  Springer.

  pp. 458-474.

  Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ; 446.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05760-1_27

• Mosquera, David; Martakos, Anastassios; Ruiz, Marcela,

  2022.

  Experiences from developing a web crawler using a model-driven development tool : emerging opportunities [paper].

  In:

  Augusto, Adriano; Gill, Asif; Bork, Dominik; Nurcan, Selmin; Reinhartz-Berger, Iris; Schmidt, Rainer, eds.,

  Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling.

  27th International Conference on Exploring Modeling Methods for Systems Analysis and Development (EMMSAD), Leuven, Belgium, 6-7 June 2022.

  Cham:

  Springer.

  pp. 336-343.

  Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ; 450.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07475-2_23

• Noel, Rene; Ruiz, Marcela; Panach, Ignacio; Pastor, Oscar,

  2021.

  Beyond conventional model-driven development : from strategy to code [paper].

  In:

  Ruiz, Marcela; Li, Tong; Pant, Vik, eds.,

  14th International iStar Workshop 2021.

  40th International Conference on Conceptual Modeling (ER2021), online, 18-21 October 2021.

  CEUR Workshop Proceedings.

  pp. 49-55.

  CEUR Workshop Proceedings ; 2983.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-24373

• Noel, Rene; Panach, Ignacio; Ruiz, Marcela; Pastor, Oscar,

  2021.

  The LiteStrat method : towards strategic model-driven development [paper].

  In:

  Insfran, Emilio; González, Fernando; Abrahão, Silvia; Fernández, Marta; Barry, Chris; Lang, Michael; Linger, Henry; Schneider, Christoph, eds.,

  ISD2021 Proceedings.

  29th International Conference on Information Systems Development (ISD), Valencia, Spain, 8-10 September 2021.

  Valencia:

  Universitat Politècnica de València.

  Available from: https://aisel.aisnet.org/isd2014/proceedings2021/managingdevops/11/

• Franch, Xavier; Ruiz, Marcela,

  2021.

  Goal-oriented models for teaching and understanding data structures [paper].

  In:

  Ghose, Aditya; Horkoff, Jennifer; Silva Souza, Vítor E.; Parsons, Jeffrey; Evermann, Joerg, eds.,

  Conceptual Modeling.

  40th International Conference on Conceptual Modeling (ER2021), online, 18-21 October 2021.

  Cham:

  Springer.

  pp. 227-241.

  Lecture Notes in Computer Science ; 13011.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89022-3_19

• Ruiz, Marcela; Ralyté, Jolita; Franch, Xavier,

  2020.

  The use of iStar in Situational Method Engineering : an ongoing study [paper].

  In:

  Guizzardi, Renata; Mussbacher, Gunter; Ruiz, Marcela, eds.,

  Thirteenth International iStar Workshop.

  28th IEEE International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE 2020), Zurich, Switzerland, 31 August - 4 September 2020.

  CEUR Workshop Proceedings.

  pp. 37-42.

  CEUR Workshop Proceedings ; 2641.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-24495

• Ruiz, Marcela; Hasselmann, Björn,

  2020.

  Can we design software as we talk? : a research idea [paper].

  In:

  Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling.

  BPMDS 2020: Business Process Modeling, Development and Support / EMMSAD 2020 : International Conference on Evaluation and Modeling Methods for Systems Analysis and Development, virtual, 8-9 June 2020.

  Cham:

  Springer.

  pp. 327-334.

  Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ; 387.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49418-6_22

• Moretti, Gioele; Ruiz, Marcela; Spielberger, Jürgen,

  2020.

  Improving performance and scalability of model-driven generated web applications : an experience report [paper].

  In:

  Research Challenges in Information Science.

  RCIS 2020 : 14th International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science, Limassol (Cyprus), 23-25 September 2020.

  Cham:

  Springer.

  pp. 285-301.

  Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ; 385.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50316-1_17

• Ruiz, Marcela,

  2022.

  Speeding up digital transformation by automating software development.

  Mitteilungen : Mitteilungen der Alumni ZHAW, Engineering & Architecture.

  (72), pp. 52-57.

  Available from: https://www.alumni-zhaw.ch/data/documents/2022/03/22/4353-6239b13e39106.pdf

• Panichella, Sebastiano; Ruiz, Marcela,

  2020.

  Requirements-collector : automating requirements specification from elicitation sessions and user feedback [paper].

  In:

  2020 IEEE 28th International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE).

  28th IEEE International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE 2020), Zurich, Switzerland, 31 August - 4 September 2020.

  IEEE.

  pp. 404-407.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1109/RE48521.2020.00057

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

Publications
Given my fruitful work as a researcher, I have various publications in national and international scientific conferences, journals, and technical reports. As a researcher, I think it is very important to disseminate scientific results.

Books
Marcela Ruiz. TraceME: A Traceability-Based Method for Conceptual Model Evolution. Model-Driven Techniques, Tools, Guidelines, and Open Challenges in Conceptual Model Evolution. © Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature, 2018. M. Ruiz: TraceME, LNBIP 312, 2018. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-89716-5_z

Book chapters
España, S., Koc, H., Ruiz, M., Pastor, Ó. Capability-support for entrepreneurial ventures. Capability Management in Digital Enterprises. Pages 311-325, 2018. Springer

Pastor, Ó., Ruiz, M. Linking Business Process Models with Executable Conceptual Schemas in an MDD context. INGÉNIERIE ET MANAGEMENT DES SYSTÈMES D’INFORMATION. MÉLANGES EN L’HONNEUR DE JACKY AKOKA. Chapter 22. Date: 2016, Cepadues, France.

Pastor, Ó., Ruiz, M., España, S. From requirements to code: a full model-driven development perspective. Software and Data Technologies, Pages: 56 – 70, Date: 2013, Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Pastor, Ó., Ruiz, M., España, S., González, A. Communication Analysis requirements models: Grammar design and implementation. International Modelling and Quality in Requirements Engineering, Essay dedicated to Martin Glinz on the Occasion of his 60th birthday Vol: 303 – Pages: 175 – 188 Date: 2012. MV-Wissenschaft. Germany

Journals
Pastor, O., Ruiz, M. From Requirements to Code: A Conceptual Model-based Approach for Automating the Software Production Process. Enterprise Modelling and Information Systems Architectures. EMISA Journal, 2018

Pastor, O., Ruiz, M., Koc, H., Valverde, F. Capability-based Communication Analysis for enterprise modelling. Enterprise Modelling and Information Systems Architectures. EMISA Journal, 2018.

Koc, H., Ruiz, M., España, S. LightCDD: Application of a Capability-Driven Development Method for Start-ups. Development. Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly, Vol 10. ISSN: 2255-9922. 2017

Ruiz, M., Costal, D., España, S., Franch, X., & Pastor, O. GoBIS: an integrated framework to analyse the Goal and Business process perspectives in Information Systems, Information Systems Journal, Vol 53. Pages 330 – 345. 2015. Elsevier. Impact factor 1.45. H Index: 52. Scopus (SJR) Q1. JCR Q2.

Zapata, C., Ruiz, M. Pastor, O. Desde Esquemas Preconceptual es hacia OO-Method. Revista Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia. Vol 56, Pages 203 – 212. ISSN 0120-6230. Medellín, Colombia. 2010.

Zapata, C., Ruiz, M. Villa, F. UNC-Diagramador una herramienta upper CASE para la obtención de diagramas UML desde Esquemas Preconceptuales. Vol 43, Pages 68.80. ISSN 0120-341X. Medellín, Colombia. 2007
Conference papers

Kramer, J., van der Werf, J., Stokking, J., and Ruiz, M. A Blockchain-Based Micro Economy Platform for Distributed Infrastructure Initiatives. International Conference on Software Architecture (ICSA 2018), CORE index A.

Ruiz, M., Aydemir, B., and Dalpiaz, F. Using Conceptual Models in Research Methods Courses: An experience using iStar 2.0 (iStart 2017, designated track in the 5th Symposium on Conceptual Modeling Education SCME 2017). The 36th International Conference on Conceptual Modeling ER2017. Core index: A. Nov. 6th -9th, 2017, Valencia, Spain

Ruiz, M. Model-based software evolution. 15th edition of the BElgian-NEtherlands software eVOLution seminar (BENEVOL 2016). December 7th and 8th, Utrecht University, the Netherlands

Koç, H., Ruiz, M. and España, S. LightCDD: a lightweight capability-driven development method for start-ups. 3rd Int. Workshop on Advances in Service DEsign based on the Notion of CApabiliy (ASDENCA) in conjunction with CAiSE 2016. Core index: A. Ljubljana, Slovenia. June 13-17, 2016

Ruiz, M., Costal, D., España, S., Franch, X. and Pastor, Ó. Integrating the Goal and Business Process Perspectives in Information System Analysis. 26th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems (CAiSE 2014). Core index: A. Publication: Print ISBN 978-3-319-07880-9. Online ISBN 978-3-319-07881-6. Volume 8484, 2014. Pages 332-346. Thessaloniki, Greece. Date: June 17-20, 2014.

Ruiz, M. A Traceability-based Method to Support Conceptual Model Evolution. 26th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems (CAiSE 2014). Core index: A. Doctoral Consortium. Publication: Print ISBN 978-3-319-07880-9. Online ISBN 978-3-319-07881-6. Thessaloniki, Greece. Date: June 17-20, 2014

Ruiz, M. A model-driven method to support conceptual model evolution. 19th International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, (REFSQ 2013). Core index: B. Publication: ISSN 1860-2770. Essen, Germany. Date: April 8-11, 2013

Ruiz, M., España, S., Pastor, O., González, A. Supporting organisational evolution by means of model-driven reengineering frameworks. 7th IEEE International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science (RCIS 2013). Core index: B. ISBN 978-1-4673-2914-9. Paris, France. Date: May 29-31, 2013

Pastor, O., Ruiz, M., España, S. De Requisitos a Código: Desarrollo de Software Dirigido por Modelos en Práctica. Latin American Congress in Requirements Engineering & Software Testing (LACREST 2012). Publicación: Serna, Edgar, ISBN 978-958-46-0577-1. Medellín, Colombia. Date: July 13-14, 2012

Ruiz, M., España, S., González, A. Model-driven organisational reengineering: A framework to support organisational improvement. Congreso: XXXVIII Conferencia Latinoamericana en Informática (CLEI 2012). ISBN 978-1-4673-0793-2. Medellín, Colombia. Date: October 1-5, 2012

Zikra, I., España, S., Ruiz, M., Pastor, O., Stirna, J. Aligning Communication Analysis with the Unifying Meta-Model for Enterprise Modeling. 21st International Conference on Information Systems Development (ISD 2012). Core index: A. ISBN 978-1-4614-7539-2. Prato, Italy . Date: August 29-30, 2012

Ruiz, M., España, S., Pastor, O., González, A. A model-driven framework to integrate Communication Analysis and OO-Method: Supporting the model transformation. 15th Workshop On Requirements Engineering (WER 2012). ISBN 978-987-1635-46-7. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Date: April 23-27, 2012

España, S., Ruiz, M., González, A. Systematic derivation of conceptual models from requirements models: a controlled experiment. IEEE Sixth International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science (RCIS 2012). Core index: B. ISBN 978-1-4577-1938-7. Valencia, España. Date: May 15-18, 2012

Ruiz, M., Ameller, D., España, S., Botella, P., Franch, X., Pastor, O. Ingeniería de requisitos orientada a servicios: características, retos y un marco metodológico. VII Jornadas de Ciencia e Ingeniería de Servicios (JCIS 2011). Pedro Javier Ávarez, José Carlos del Arco, Miguel R. Luaces (Eds.) SISTEDES; pp. 125-130. ISBN: 978-84-0749-485-4. A Coruña, España. Date: September 5-9, 2011.

González, A., España, S., Ruiz, M., Pastor, O. Systematic derivation of class diagrams from communication-oriented business process models. International workshop on Business Process Modeling, Development and Support (BPMDS 2011). Terry Halpin, Selin Nurcan, John Krogstie, Pnina Soffer, Erik Proper, Rainer Schmidt, Ilia Bider (Eds); pp. 246-260. ISBN 978-3-642-21758-6. London, United Kingdom. June 20-21, 2011. Attached to 23rd International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE 2011), international conference of type A according to CORE (2008).

España, S., Ruiz, M., Pastor, O., González, A. Systematic derivation of state machines from communication-oriented business process models. IEEE Fifth International Conference on Research Challenge in Information Science (RCIS 2011). Colette Rolland, Martine Collard (Eds); pp 444-455. Guadeloupe, France. Date: May 19-21, 2011

Ruiz, M., González, A., España, S., Pastor, O. Message Structures: a modelling technique for information systems analysis and design. 14th Workshop on Requirements Engineering (WER 2011). Claudia P. Ayala, Simone D.J. Barbosa, Maria Lencastre, Eduardo Figueiredo (Eds.); pp. 419-418. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Date: April 27-29, 2011.

España, S., Ruiz, M., Gonzáles, A., Pastor, O. Integrando Técnicas Avanzadas de Modelado de Requisitos en MOSKitt. MOSKittDay-EclipseDay2010. www.slideshare.net/CommunicationAnalysis/presentacion-camoskitt-day2010-v20

Ruiz, M., España, S., González, A., Pastor, O. Análisis de Comunicaciones como un enfoque de requisitos para el desarrollo dirigido por modelos. VII Taller sobre Desarrollo de Software Dirigido por Modelos (DSDM’10). Avila-Garcia, O., Cabot, J., Muñoz, J., Romero, J., Vallecillo, A. (Eds); SISTEDES; pp. 70-77. Valencia, España. Date: September 7, 2010.
Conference proceedings

Goulao, M., Ruiz, M., Susi, A. Eleventh International i* Workshop (iStar 2018). Proceedings of the 11th International i* Workshop. Co-located with the 30th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE 2018). Tallinn, Estonia, June 12, 2018.

Technical reports

Ruiz, M., Costal, D., España, S., Franch, X., Pastor, O. Validation of the iStar2ca guidelines: variables, hypotheses, instrumentation and statistical results. Ref. TR – Technical Report UPCommons. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. 2015. Available at: hdl.handle.net/2117/27746

Rueda, U., España, S., Ruiz, M. GREAT Process Modeller user manual. Ref. TR – Technical Report PROS-TR-2015-01. 2015. Available at: arxiv.org/abs/1502.07693

Costal, D., España, S., Franch, X, Pastor, O, Ruiz, M. Integration of i* and Communication Analysis. Ref. TR – Technical Report PROS. 2014. Available at: hci.dsic.upv.es/ca/CAiSE2014_TR.pdf

España, S.; González, A.; Pastor, Ó.; Ruiz, M. Communication Analysis modelling techniques. ProS-TR-2012-02. Available at: arxiv.org/abs/1205.0987

España, S., González, A., Pastor, O., Ruiz, M. Integration of Communication Analysis and the OO-Method: Rules for the manual derivation of the Conceptual Model. PROS-TR-2011-04. 2011. Available at: arxiv.org/abs/1103.3686

España, S., González, A., Pastor, O., Ruiz, M. A practical guide to Message Structures: a modelling technique for information systems analysis and design. PROS-TR-2011-02. 2011. Available at: arxiv.org/abs/1101.5341

España, S., González, A., Pastor, O., Ruiz, M. Integration of Communication Analysis and the OO-Method: Manual derivation of the Conceptual Model. The SuperStationery Co. Lab demo. PROS-TR-2011-01. 2011. Available at: arxiv.org/abs/1101.0105

Other publications

Interview by ZHAW Digital on DIZH Fellowship, Thursday, 29 April 2021: When a discussion leads to developing a software [Link to interview: www.zhaw.ch/en/about-us/news/news-releases/news-detail/event-news/wenn-durchs-sprechen-software-entsteht/]

Alumni Radio interview by Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 8 February 2021 (just in Spanish): "En investigación yo soy muy apasionada en desarrollar formas de obtener software de forma automática, si pudiéramos hablar y que al hablar el software se creara automáticamente, ese es mi sueño, de que cuando los analistas se reúnan y comenten qué es lo que quieren del software, el software se cree”. [Link to abstract: medellin.unal.edu.co/egresados/medios/audioteca-de-regreso/893-marcela-ruiz-estara-en-egresados-unal-08-02-2021.html] [Link to radio interview: radio.unal.edu.co/detalle/marcela-ruiz-carmona] [Download radio interview: www.marcelaruiz.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Egresados_UNAL_02_08_2021.mp3]

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