Software Engineering Research in Mexico: A Systematic Mapping Study

Abstract

Background: Software Engineering (SE) is a young discipline aiming at the systematic application of tools, methods and practices to develop and maintain software products on time, under budget and with a certain degree of quality. Research in SE has gradually attracted the attention of various Mexican higher-education institutions and some Mexicanresearch centers. Objective: This study aims to survey the existing SE research conducted in Mexico to identify areas of research and research gaps. Method: A systematic mapping study was performed to find relevant papers on the topic in a structured and repeatable manner. Results: From a total of 380 documents retrieved by the defined search string, 206 relevant papers were selected. Taking as reference the Knowledge Areas (KAs) of the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK V3.0), we observe that more than half (69%) of the Mexican states have at least one published paper in one of the KAs. The knowledge areas KA02 (software design) and KA08 (software engineering process) have the most published papers. The most common venue of publication is the conference, and the second most common is the journal article, among other interesting results. Conclusions: Although SE research in Mexico is gradually being strengthened, more research across the Mexican states remains necessary.