The SE-Toolbox was developed in a fifteen-month development process. Involved were the state research institute fortiss – responsible for software-intensive systems – on behalf of the Mittelstand-Digital Center Augsburg, as well as the IT service company mbH Emsland (it.emsland) for the Mittelstand-Digital Center Lingen.Münster.Osnabrück. Additionally, in collaboration with six SMEs, central challenges were identified, and based on these, the development of the toolbox was directed. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) as part of the 'Software4KMU' initiative.
The SE-Toolbox, empowering Digital Competence
When carrying out software engineering projects – from digitalization initiatives to complete in-house development – many small and medium-sized enterprises face limited personnel capacity, tight deadlines, and a lack of methodological foundations. This is where the SE-Toolbox comes in: it provides modular, flexible components for the critical phases of the software development cycle – from requirements engineering at the start of the project to quality assurance at the end. The offering is further enhanced by practical learning modules, ensuring the immediate application of the toolbox in everyday work.
With the SE-Toolbox, digital competencies within the company can be systematically developed, processes can be sustainably optimized, and collaboration with external IT service providers can be improved in the long term – ideally, it can even significantly reduce dependence on external expertise.
Proven tools and templates – from practice, for practice
The SE-Toolbox combines proven methods, tools, and best practices from software engineering in a user-friendly and directly applicable form. It was developed to particularly assist small and medium-sized businesses in getting started with digitalization projects and optimizing existing processes. The toolbox provides practical support both in selecting suitable, commercially available software products and in planning and implementing internal IT projects.
The development team placed special emphasis on requirements management: 'The unique aspect of the SE-Toolbox is that we enable users to approach their software projects in a new way,' explains Anton Luckhardt, the fortiss project manager. Scientific insights from the research initiatives AMDiRE and NaPiRE were incorporated into this approach: AMDiRE is a method that allows requirements to be systematically captured and structured, with a focus on clearly defined outcomes – called artifacts – rather than rigid processes. This approach was developed and established over 20 years of extensive research and industry collaborations. NaPiRE includes empirically supported findings from 15 years of research on practical approaches in requirements management and served as an additional foundation for designing the toolbox.
Free, practical, and without the need for registration
Michael Schnaider, Managing Director of it.emsland, sees the toolbox primarily as a strategic tool for SMEs: 'The templates and support that the SE-Toolbox offers its users focus on individually achievable results rather than rigid processes typical of previous methods.' The toolbox is thus an effective building block to support the Mittelstand-Digital Centers and their partner companies.”
All content of the SE-Toolbox is freely accessible, completely free to use, and does not require registration. The platform is suitable for both internal company projects and collaboration with IT service providers. Additionally, it supports self-study and practical training for employees without an IT background – an important contribution to bridging the skills shortage in SMEs.
