A framework for understanding the factors influencing pair programming success

Pair programming is one of the more controversial aspects of several Agile system development methods, in particular eXtreme Programming (XP). Various studies have assessed factors that either drive the success or suggest advantages (and disadvantages) of pair programming. In this exploratory study the literature on pair programming is examined and factors distilled. These factors are then compared and contrasted with those discovered in our recent Delphi study of pair programming. Gallis et al. (2003) have proposed an initial framework aimed at providing a comprehensive identification of the major factors impacting team programming situations including pair programming. However, this study demonstrates that the framework should be extended to include an additional category of factors that relate to organizational matters. These factors will be further refined, and used to develop and empirically evaluate a conceptual model of pair programming (success)

Extreme dynamics: modelling the extreme programming software development process ”. Workshop on empirical evaluation of agile processes, XP/Agile Universe 2002

to as agile development (Ambler, 2002) are recent techniques that challenge the traditional ways in which software is developed. Even though the proponents of Extreme Programming are very vocal, (real or purported) benefits of Extreme Programming are mostly supported through anecdotal evidence; in all fairness, the same can be said for the standpoint of the opponents of the technique. Reports with quantitative results are still scarce (Cockburn and Williams, 2000), and only recently first attempts at modeling the benefits of Extreme Programming has appeared (Padberg and Müller, 2003). Looking for a modeling paradigm that can be used to gain quantitative insight into the tradeoffs and possible benefits of Extreme Programming, we have turned to System Dynamics, which has already been used to model traditional software development processes (Abdel-Hamid and Madnick, 1991). In this paper, we investigate the prospects of using system dynamics to model, and subsequently simulate and analyze, the software development process utilizing the Extreme Programming approach. We focus specifically on the quality assurance aspects of this methodology, since its main goal is to create value for the customer through the development of higher quality software products