Generic Competences for the IT Knowledge Workers: A Study from the Field

Abstract

Abstract. This paper aims to identify generic competency levels relevant to a particular kind of knowledge workers: software engineers. Based on previous works, and in particular in the description of a professional career, authors review of the literature related to the characterization of the labor force in the Software Engineering (SE) domain. Subsequently, using a quantitative analysis based on investigative surveys administered to a number of representative professionals, authors provide with a generic competency ladder adapted to the given career description.

Exploring software developers’ work practices: Task differences, participation, engagement, and speed of task resolution

“…This is particularly necessary given the evidence provided in the literature on the relevance and importance of task differences [25,27,45,48,52], along with our preliminary findings that suggest that various team and individual competencies may indeed be useful for performing particular tasks [20]. Accordingly, in line with frameworks/models considering task differences [25,27,45,48,52], we contend that different task ecosystems may require specific team participation and engagement requirements [7,[77][78][79][80] -the absence of which may have implications for team performance. In fact, such requirements may also extend to the behavior and temperament of individual practitioners within teams or subgroups [2,13].…”

“…Aligned with such assessments, and because of perceived differences in software task purpose and focus, those working in the personality psychology and human resource management domains have stressed that team roles and software development positions should be supported by behavioral (and competency) profiling [77][78][79][80]. Under such an approach, specific tasks would be assigned to those occupying individual software roles; for example, software testers generally validate or verify that software features work as intended and are bug-free, while software analysts typically decompose the software application domain and prepare requirements for developers.…”

What affects team behavior? Preliminary linguistic analysis of communications in the Jazz repository

“…In particular, most software-related positions demand multiple capabilities, including intra-personal, organizational, inter-personal and management skills [31,32]. Intra-personal skills include judgment, innovation and creativity, and tenacity, while being self-organizing and having knowledge of specific environments (e.g.…”

“…Outside of the role theories domain, work in human resource management has also integrated psychology and role theories in supporting the task of selecting individuals with appropriate skill sets for positions. In particular, most software-related positions demand multiple capabilities, including intra-personal, organizational, inter-personal and management skills [31,32]. Intra-personal skills include judgment, innovation and creativity, and tenacity, while being self-organizing and having knowledge of specific environments (e.g.…”

The Challenges of Modern Economy on the Competencies of Knowledge Workers

“…A recent study by Koehorst (2020) explored the Dutch creative industry and attempted to explain the desired competencies of KWrs in the modern economy but mainly focused on digital skills in the creative industry. Several existing works of literature concentrate on single skills, such as analytical skills, trust, motivation, or KWr retention (Bontje et al, 2017;Khazaei, 2019a;Sjöblom, 2020;Colomo-Palacios et al, 2010). Other questions remain unanswered, such as the current organisational challenges in finding the required competencies and the measures taken to solve these challenges.…”