Using grounded theory to understand software process improvement: A study of Irish software product companies

Abstract

Software Process Improvement (SPI) aims to understand the software process as it is used within an organisation and thus drive the implementation of changes to that process to achieve specific goals such as increasing development speed, achieving higher product quality or reducing costs. Accordingly, SPI researchers must be equipped with the methodologies and tools to enable them to look within organisations and understand the state of practice with respect to software process and process improvement initiatives, in addition to investigating the relevant literature. Having examined a number of potentially suitable research methodologies, we have chosen Grounded Theory as a suitable approach to determine what was happening in actual practice in relation to software process and SPI, using the indigenous Irish software product industry as a test-bed. The outcome of this study is a theory, grounded in the field data, that explains when and why SPI is undertaken by the software industry. The objective of this paper is to describe both the selection and usage of grounded theory in this study and evaluate its effectiveness as a research methodology for software process researchers. Accordingly, this paper will focus on the selection and usage of grounded theory, rather than results of the SPI study itself.

Towards Understanding How to Build Strategic Flexibility of an IT Organization

“…It used grounded theory, as suggested by Charmaz [30] to uncover the processes that decision-makers go through as they build IT organization strategic flexibility. Grounded theory is a well-established research method used in software engineering, IT, and IS research [31].…”

Uma análise do uso de grounded theory em engenharia de software

“…e "De que maneira?" (COLEMAN & O'CONNOR, 2007). O objetivo da análise qualitativa é sistematicamente consolidar, reduzir e interpretar dados obtidos de várias fontes e dar algum significado a eles (FRANÇA, FELIX, & SILVA, 2012).…”

“…Assim, a Engenharia de Software é um fenômeno constituído sócio-culturalmente e não tecnicamente. Logo, as pesquisas conduzidas nesta área não podem ser baseadas exclusivamente em abordagens da ciência natural, mas devem incluir um modo de se compreender fenômenos psicológicos, sociais e culturais (COLEMAN & O'CONNOR, 2007). Entretanto, métodos qualitativos ainda não são comumente utilizados em pesquisas em ES.…”

Early Stage Adoption of ISO/IEC 29110 Software Project Management Practices: A Case Study

“…The interviews lasted 2 hours in duration and were audio recorded and transcribed. The Grounded Theory [18] coding mechanisms was used to analyze interview data. Due to pre-agreed confidentiality reasons none of the empirical data collected regarding these pilot projects can be discussed in this paper.…”