There are numerous challenges, and rewards, in conducting empirical studies in industry.

Challenges emanate from the multi-faceted complexity:in products, systems and services; development, evolution and management processes; vendor-customer models and relationships; organizational settings; business contexts and dynamics; etc. Yet there are rewards for successful studies in terms of utility of the results in real-world situations. Building on the results and momentum of the CESI workshops held during ICSE (2013, 2014, and 2015) this workshop is the follow-on workshop at ICSE 2016. 

A new element of CESI 2016 is that, beyond the research-methodological focus of previous workshops, we seek research contributions highlighting results of the empirical studies conducted in industry. We believe that this move will: 

1.further precipitate empirical research in the software engineering community, and 

2.engage industry participants from the point of view of the utility of the results emanating from empirical studies. 

A long-term goal of the CESI workshop series is to create a vibrant research and practice community with focus on conducting quality empirical studies in industry hoping that their results will lead to improved software engineering practices, techniques, methods, processes, technologies, products/systems and services.