Assessment of My Work

Setting the Stage

Over 64 years I have worked as an engineer (at IBM 1962–1975), as a researcher (at DTU 1976–2007) and, lately (2008–now), as a scientist .
An engineer produces artifacts – say in the form of (i) chemical products, (ii) buildings (houses, roads, bridges, tunnels, etc.), (iii) mechanical gear: motors, car, ships, etc., and (iv) electrical appliances (the electrical grid, etc.), and electronics [here: IT] – all based on theoretical insights into respective domains: chemistry, civil engineering, mechanics and electricity.
A researcher studies what there is: existing theories – seeks answers to well-formulated questions – but does not necessarily come up with new theories.
A scientist goes beyond researching in reflecting on why theories are what they say, rejects “old” theories, modifies and/or extends “existing” or poses “new” theories

I have very few publicly available engineering publications.
My engineering documents are all design documents of, for examples such IBM products as:
- IBM 1070
- IBM 1800 TCA
- IBM ACS/1
- The IBM Vienna Lab. PL/I Defn. [242]
Although it is not my work, the Dansk Datamatik Center, DDC development of the CHILL and Ada [228] formal definitions and compilers exemplify my engineering contribution – through my students (and later employees of DDC [of which I was the scientific (!) unpaid director]).

Certain aspects of the IBM Vienna Lab. PL/I Defn. [242] was research: exploring and contributing to the existing theory of formal language semantics, i.e., VDM [239] [some of it perhaps even of scientific value].
Most of my work as a professor at DTU, i.e., between 1976 and 2007, was research: exploring various ways in which VDM could be applied. I am most proud of, for example [240,241].
My two co-publications (books) [] and my three Springer books [110,111,] and one JAIST (Univ.) book [90] are “60%/40%” research/science work, with [90] being perhaps “50%/50%” !

During my time as UN Director of UNU-IIST [1992–1997] domain engineering emerged, with my staff (notably Søren Prehn and Chris George). There we developed, in “classical” RAISE, RSL style, domain descriptions of Chinese Railways Running Map system, core aspects Vietnam's Ministry of Finance domain, a Philippines' Telecommunications Telephone domain, a Mongolian &c. Multi-script domain, etc.
When I then retired, at age 70, I got time to reflect. And then, in my view, my scientific “era” began.
First with a publication on requirements engineering [101] – rarely cited !
Then, around 2010, with two pre-mature publications [81,82], ideas became more focused.
The 2017 journal publications [70,51] marked the real beginning of what I now, unashamed, call The Method.
The 2020 book [46] – also published by Springer – “collected it all (!)”.
And the book-draft [1] – in a sense – represents my [almost] last words on the topic !

As is expected, I have published a lot; some reviewers have been kind, others less so.
Except, I unabashed declare that most of them are more-or-less solid engineering and research contributions.
As for my work – I could, “modestly” wish for more recognition in the form of research & science collaboration and citation
Farewell words of an elderly gentleman, one whose life, all 88 years of it, blessed marriage and offspring, have been wonderful.