Abstract-Smart Grid software applications are a kind of ultra-large-scale system (ULSS) where complexity has a profound impact on their quality and defect profiles. Their complexity also adds challenges to the process of designing studies to investigate their complicated software development. In this paper we propose an empirical research agenda to study the relationship between the characteristics of Smart Grid software applications as a ULSS and their software defect profile. We base our discussion on a structured literature review and on an ongoing case study in a software company. Future studies are needed on certain characteristics of Smart Grid software applications that affect their defect profile. For this purpose, not only the software development companies but also the grid utilities should be studied.

Abstract-Benefiting from inter-organizational collaboration while remaining competitive are organizations' target in software industry nowadays. However, little is known about competition awareness and collaboration processes and practices in software-intensive organizations. This paper introduces the first step to understand the role and impact of competition on team collaboration in the context of inter-organizational software project. A case study was designed and initially performed. Initial findings revealed a set of propositions for future research. We found that collaboration initiates from technical coordination requirement and is influenced by technical, social and organizational factors. Meanwhile, competition comes from business strategy and competition awareness could negatively influence effectiveness of social-technical collaboration. Future works will focus on the mutual influence between competition and collaboration and role of global dispersion on this interaction.