The Software Engineering Method and Theory (SEMAT) community created the Essence kernel as a unifying framework for describing and analyzing software engineering endeavors. The Essence kernel is based upon human experience and judgment, not empirical data.

Background: At Carnegie Mellon University in Silicon Valley, we have collected data from masters of science in software engineering students as they complete a team-based project course as their capstone or practicum project using the Essence kernel. Each week, the team recorded their progress in an Essence Reflection meeting. This data serves as training data for evaluating the Essence kernel and alternative candidate kernels.

Objective: Generate candidate replacement kernels by using a fitness function based on empirical data.

Method: Using genetic programming, the kernel genotype is represented as a collection of linear state machines each with a collection of unique checklist items. Operations to evolve the genotypes include randomly moving checklist items, splitting states, and deleting states by moving their checklist items to other states.

Results: Genetic programming created random candidate essence kernels that scored higher fitness scores than the original essence kernel. The purpose of this exploratory work is to demonstrate one way to generate a candidate Essence kernel directly from empirical data, not to recommend a replacement for the original Essence kernel. Reducing the Essence kernel from seven alphas to one alpha results in higher fitness scores.

Limitations: Given the limited amount of data, the generated kernels may be over-optimized. Additional empirical data is required before recommending replacing the original kernel with a candidate kernel that fits the data.

Conclusion: The original Essence kernel is highly structured around human notions of order. Genetic algorithms can generate candidate kernels that humans might not normally consider. Based on the analysis of the fitness function, a kernel with a fundamentally different structure might more effectively recommend next steps for a team during Essence Reflection Meetings.