Exploring software maintenance process characteristics by using inductive thematic analysis

Abstract

Abstract. Software maintenance is the most costly part of software life cycle, deserving more attention of research community. Systematic consideration of software maintenance problems and challenges becomes even more important in small software companies that face several difficulties due to their constraints related to staff, resources and funding. This paper outlines a method for identifying and systematizing knowledge about practice in small organizations. The method is implemented in a micro software company for identifying characteristics of software maintenance processes. Thematic analysis enables identification and systematization of knowledge in a framework that is grounded in the empirical data collected in the company. This knowledge about the maintenance processes is available to the company staff for usage in everyday activities. The method can be easily tailored to other small organizations.

Software maintenance improvement in small software companies: Reflections on experiences

“…The basic data analysis technique in the process assessment method is inductive thematic analysis [56], which is used for exploring characteristics of maintenance processes [57]. Several quantitative data analysis methods were used for accompanying and justifying qualitative findings, such as trend analysis [43,58], regression analysis for effort estimation [59,60] and task complexity analysis [61], and fuzzy screening for process evaluation [62].…”

Upravljanje znanjem u malim softverskim preduzećima: Koncepti i praktična iskustva

“…Kao segment tog projekta je realizovan podprojekat sistematizacije znanja koje se odnosi na proces održavanja softvera. Segmenti ovog istraživanja su delimično publikovani, a obuhvataju opis pristupa identifikaciji znanja u postupku procene procesa [18], diskusiju o primeni kvalitativnih metoda koje čine suštinu postupka identifikacije i sistematizacije znanja [22], prikaz induktivnih metoda u procenjivanju procesa koje su esencijalne za identifikovanje znanja o procesima [23], prikaz segmenta tematskog okvira sa znanjem o procesiranju zahteva za održavanjem softvera [24], i prikaz koncepta povratnih informacija (feedback) u procenjivanju softverskih procesa i identifikovanju znanja [25].…”