Knowledge Creation in Requirements Engineering – A Systematic Literature Review

Requirements engineering (RE) is crucial for software development, yet software requirements are often not properly identified or implemented. As the RE process thereby highly depends on human knowledge (explicit and tacit), this problem can in many cases be attributed to the lack of mutual understanding between customers and developers which is caused by diverging domain knowledge. To solve this problem, we conduct a systematic literature review to identify methods associated with Nonaka’s organizational knowledge creation theory. We map eight such methods on six common RE problems as we analyze to which extent the methods overcome the associated problems. Although it is not always obvious which problems apply to specific software projects, the identified methods provide an adequate first approach to reduce the risk of potential RE problems, thus making project failure less likely

Exploring the influence of instant messaging and video conferencing on the quality of project communication

Growth in computer-mediated communication (CMC) technologies such as instant messaging (IM) and video conferencing (VC) has led to a need to explore the utilisation and influence of these tools on the quality of project communication, which must still be established. This article reports the results of a survey conducted among 210 project practitioners using CMC in various industries to determine how, why and what each medium is used for, and how these media influence factors that promote quality communication. Some results showed that the use of both instant messaging and video conferencing in projects is moderate and both improve the quality of communication in virtual teams, however in different ways

Exploring the influence of instant messaging and video conferencing on the quality of project communication

Growth in computer-mediated communication (CMC) technologies such as instant messaging (IM) and video conferencing (VC) has led to a need to explore the utilisation and influence of these tools on the quality of project communication, which must still be established. This article reports the results of a survey conducted among 210 project practitioners using CMC in various industries to determine how, why and what each medium is used for, and how these media influence factors that promote quality communication. Some results showed that the use of both instant messaging and video conferencing in projects is moderate and both improve the quality of communication in virtual teams, however in different ways.Die groei in rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasietegnologie soos kitsboodskappe en videokonferensies het gelei tot ʼn behoefte om die benutting en invloed van hierdie tegnologie op die gehalte van projekkommunikasie te verstaan aangesien dit nog nie vasgestel is nie. Hierdie artikel rapporteer die resultate van ‘n opname wat gedoen was onder 210 projekpraktisyns wat CMC’s gebruik in verskeie industrieë om te bepaal hoe, hoekom en waarvoor elke medium gebruik word, en hoe hierdie media die faktore beïnvloed wat kwaliteitkommunikasie bevorder. Sommige resultate toon dat die gebruik van beide hierdie tipe media in projekte matig is en dat kitsboodskappe en videokonferensies albei die gehalte van kommunikasie in virtuele spanne verbeter maar egter op verskillende maniere.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/structam2016Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM)Statistic

Project communication, trust, collaboration and success : a structural equation model and the influence of computer mediated communication

Project success is the goal of every project that is undertaken. Literature supports the fact that project communication in addition to several other ‘human-related’ factors has an influence on the ultimate success of the project as it is well-known that it is people who deliver projects: not processes or systems. This thesis theoretically and empirically establishes that the quality of communication, level of trust and degree of collaboration are the main human-related factors that determine project success. Structural equation modelling techniques are used to determine that project success is positively influenced by the degree of collaboration and indirectly by the level of trust between project team members based on a foundation of quality of communication. Moreover, that the quality of communication factor is determined by frequency of interaction, communication content, type, technology, number of channels, audience and communications plan. Similarly, the level of trust in a project is determined by the degree of knowledge exchange, imported trust and meeting team members' expectations while the degree of collaboration is determined by team relationships, coordination, proximity, commitment, conflict and incentives. In order to better understand the foundational role that project communication plays in the model, the study determines that project and programme performance can be achieved by communication-mediated communication (CMC) that is facilitated by a programme call centre. A call centre can provide the correct combination of informal and formal communication to increase the communication, collaboration and trust between principals and agents in a project. The programme benefits of a call centre include improved team communication, project deliverables, service delivery and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, it was found that the CMC mediums of instant messaging and video conferencing impact positively on the variables that determine the quality of communication in a project, as they lead to more appropriate communication and improve the quality of communication of virtual teams. The thesis provides project managers with many practical ways in which project success can be achieved by promoting communication, trust and collaboration in their projects through the use of a call centre and other CMC’s. The results and findings of the two related studies that were undertaken have been published in ISI-rated international and national journals. The findings of this thesis contribute to better communication management in projects and enhance existing knowledge of project communication, trust, collaboration and project success.Thesis (PhD (Project Management))--University of Pretoria, 2014.Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM)Unrestricte

Understanding the Effectiveness of Cross-Cultural Video-Mediated Communication

People are increasingly using advanced communication technologies such as videoconferencing to collaborate across geographical boundaries and time zones. This presents problems because cultural values, attitudes, and behaviours influence how a given group of people perceives, understands, communicates and interprets information and knowledge. This study explores how various factors including technology and cultural differences of participants affect their perceptions of the effectiveness of cross-cultural communication in videoconferences. The study identifies factors that most influence the effectiveness of cross-cultural video-mediated communication. It will help practitioners to: 1) make efficient use of resources while designing and facilitating videoconferences; and 2) incorporate cultural factors in assessing the effectiveness of cross-cultural distance learning events. The study is situated in the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) which spans the world with more than 120 distance learning centres and facilitates communication for development through videoconferencing technology. A multiple-case cross-cultural study has been carried out in GDLN affiliates located in four countries: Australia, Mongolia, New Zealand and Russia. Evidence for this case study comes from observations during videoconferences, semi-structured interviews with participants, documents and video recordings. This exploratory study contributes to the body of knowledge in three research domains: development communication through the videoconferencing channel; cross-cultural factors in video-mediated communication; and perceived effectiveness of videoconferencing

A philosophy of home: a study on an alternative experience of domesticity

The major objective of this thesis is to provide an alternative to the predominant model of the Western urban home, arguing that it is more detrimental than beneficial to its inhabitants. In order to achieve this, it first explores the development of home through a genealogical analysis. It then considers the concepts with which it is traditionally connected, such as those of identity, safety, privacy and satisfaction, supporting that the idealised home hides numerous issues of concern (e.g. class and sex inequalities, physical and psychological violence). In order to form a more comprehensive picture, the thesis draws on different philosophical approaches discussing the idea of home, while it explores a variety of contemporary habitation and home-making practices (e.g. smart and second homes, new technologies inside the house, home and consumerism). The normative and overly-idealised domestic model, promoted in Western urban societies, is presented as detrimental both on a personal and on a social level. Therefore, alternatives are explored in Adorno’s ‘Hotel Room’, Jameson’s ‘Dirty Realism’ and Deleuze and Guattari’s ‘Nomadology’. The lack of viability characterising the abovementioned proposals leads to the examination of the Deleuzoguattarian concept of the Body without Organs; the home as a BwO provides the contemporary agents with the tools to reconstruct an autonomous space where they can recreate their personal discourse and influence the social ground accordingly. Through the analysis of home this thesis explores how and why it has been appropriated by systemic forces and highlights a very serious issue: the fact that our personal space is no longer personal. Simultaneously, a common concern of feminist and post-structuralist background is addressed regarding the process of self-redefinition and the ways to approach it. The response entails a reconstructed autonomous home with a respective influence on the public sphere

Broadband Videoconferencing as a Knowledge Management Tool

This was a CANARIE Inc. funded project designed and delivered by Mark Wolfe.A Knowledge Management framework was adopted to augment research and evaluation of a broadband videoconferencing trial undertaken in 2002 at the University of Calgary. Involving distributed research teams across Canada, the InSite Broadband Collaborative Research Project was designed to measure the extent to which knowledge workers embedded in mediated workplace networks would adopt and then adapt small- and large-format videoconferencing in support of informal interaction aimed at knowledge creation and transfer. Textual output from informal interaction in videoconferencing and chat room sessions was recorded over a 5-month period. Data were analyzed using qualitative and content analysis methods to test for knowledge processes thought to be embedded in informal collaborative interaction. An exit survey comprising nominal and ordinal data was used to measure participant perceptions of using videoconferencing technologies to enhance knowledge-based collaboration. Indicators of knowledge processes in informal interaction were drawn from the KM and videoconferencing literatures. Analysis suggests broadband videoconferencing can be an effective enabler of communication and informal interaction dynamics supportive of knowledge creation and transfer. A concluding summary addresses barriers identified in the study and suggests approaches for future KM research in the video-mediated research domain