Applying global software development approaches to building high-performing software teams

The rapid progress of communication technologies combined with the growing competition for talents and knowledge has made it necessary to reassess the potential of distributed development which has significantly changed the landscape of the IT industry introducing a variety of cooperation models and making notable changes to the software team work environment. Along with this, enterprises pay more attention to teams’ performance improvement, employing emerging management tools for building up efficient software teams, and trying to get the most out of understanding factors which significantly impact a team’s overall performance. The objective of the research is to systematize factors characterizing high-performing software teams; indicate the benefits of global software development (GSD) models positively influencing software teams’ development performance; and study how companies’ strategies can benefit from distributed development approaches in building high-performing software teams. The thesis is designed as a combination of a systematic literature review followed by qualitative research in the form of semi-structured interviews to validate the findings regarding classification of GSD models’ benefits and their influence on the development of high-performing software teams. At a literature review stage, the research (1) introduces a team performance factors’ model reflecting the aspects which impact the effectiveness of development teams; (2) suggests the classification of GSD models based on organizational, legal, and temporal characteristics, and (3) describes the benefits of GSD models which influence the performance of software development teams. Within the empirical part of the study, we refine the classification of GSD models’ benefits based on the qualitative analysis results of semi-structured interviews with practitioners from IT industry, form a comparison table of GSD benefits depending on the model in question, and introduce recommendations for company and team management regarding the application of GSD in building high-performing software teams. IT corporations, to achieve their strategic goals, can enrich their range of available tools for managing high-performing teams by considering the peculiarities of different GSD models. Company and team management should evaluate the advantages of the distributed operational models, and use the potential and benefits of available configurations to increase teams’ performance and build high-performing software teams

Management of software development projects in Brazil using agile methods

The aim of the paper is to analyze how agile management practices are being adopted by specialists from software development technology companies in Brazil, identifying actions that contribute to the success of software implementation, aiming to ensure the survival of organizations in the market. The study counted with a literature review to support the field research with software development specialists who use the agile methodology and work in Brazil in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The results were analyzed through a descriptive statistics and content analysis. The research identified that the companies that adopt agile software management methodology in Brazil prefer the Scrum method and the development teams may be geographically distributed. The main positive points identified when adopting agile methods were the process speed, team involvement, maximization of results, involvement with the client, and simplicity. Most experts identified problems in the implementation of the agile methodology and as points of attention: management of distributed teams, scope estimation and communication. It was possible to identify the existence of a positive financial result by adopting the agile method for software development projects, as well as actions that contribute to the success of these projects, such as controlling quality using different testing techniques, project management, time, stakeholders, scope, and have agile communication, with feedback and good leadership. On the other hand, it was observed in the statistics that, although efficient, this method is still not being widely used. This research can contribute to the managers of software development companies in the use of agile methods as well as improving management decision-making

The Use of Kanban to Alleviate Collaboration and Communication Challenges of Global Software Development

Aim/Purpose: This paper aims to describe how various Kanban elements can help alleviate two prominent types of challenges, communication and collaboration in Global Software Development (GSD). Background: Iterative and Lean development methodologies like Kanban have gained significance in the software development industry, both in the co-located and globally distributed contexts. However, little is known on how such methodologies can help mitigate various challenges in that occur in a globally distributed software development context. Methodology: The study was conducted using a single-case study based on a general inductive approach to analysis and theory development. Through the literature review, collaboration and communication challenges that GSD teams face were identified. Data collected through semi-structured interviews was then inductively analyzed to describe how the case-study teams employed various Kanban elements to mitigate communication and collaboration challenges they face during GSD. Findings: The study found that some Kanban elements, when properly employed, can help alleviate collaboration and communication challenges that occur within GSD teams. These relate to Inclusion Criteria, Reverse Items, Kanban Board, Policies, Avatars, and Backlog. Contribution: The paper contributes to knowledge by proposing two simple concept maps that detail the specific types of communication and collaboration challenges which can be alleviated by the aforementioned Kanban elements in GSD. Recommendations for Practitioners: This paper is relevant to GSD teams who are seeking ways to enhance their team collaboration and communication as these are the most important elements that contribute to GSD project success. It is recommended that relevant Kanban elements be used to that effect, depending on the challenges that they aim to alleviate. Future Research: Future research can investigate the same research questions (or similar ones) using a quantitative approach

Systematic Literature Review of Trend and Characteristic Agile Model

Agile is a methodology and engineering approach for software development that encourages change in collaboration through tasks carried out at various stages of the software development life cycle. Scaled Agile Framework, Kanban, Scrum, Lean, Extreme Programming, Crystal, Dynamic System Development Method, and Feature Driven Development are a few of the approaches that go along with agile. Each of these approaches has distinct traits and qualities of its own. Every engineer and researcher needs to be aware of the benefits and characteristics of each method before deciding to use one. In order to assist engineers and researchers who will use one of these methods, this research will analyze it. The method used in this paper is a systematic literature review, which involved at 52 papers published in the previous eight years, from 2018 to 2022. This method is carried out by determining research questions, determining library initiation and selection, determining inclusion and exclusion criteria, and finally performing data extraction. This essay seeks to establish: (i) Study trends on each agile technique from 2018 to 2022 and (ii) Each agile method's characteristics. The results of this literature review indicate that Scrum and Extreme Programming have overtaken other agile methodologies as the most popular agile techniques over the last eight years. Through an analysis of the characteristics of each methodology, namely the development approach, suggested iteration time period, team communication, project size, project documentation, design, workflow approach, project coordinator, role assignment, coding, testing, and the nature of customer interaction, it is found that Scrum and Extreme Programming do have several advantages over other methodologies

An exploratory study of the development of virtual learning environments for adult literacy education

This thesis fundamentally was derived from the increasing demand for more flexible models of adult literacy education, within a wider agenda that aimed to improve accessibility to a wide range of users with different learning styles and to promote the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a necessary life-skill. A study in 1997 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, reported that one in four Irish adults lacked the basic literacy skills needed to function in society. In 2001, anecdotal evidence suggested that as low as four percent o f Irish adults with literacy problems were receiving literacy tuition and support in established adult literacy centres in Ireland. A proposed solution to the problems of access and support, retention of anonymity and provision of flexibility in literacy education involved the establishment of virtual learning environments. The focus of this research was to present a synthesis of developments in the area of the adult literacy tuition and support, and, furthermore, to ascertain whether there existed elements of a ''workable process’ for designing and integrating technology in literacy programmes that could be utilised in future developments of virtual learning environments. The focus of this investigation was primarily on design team and stakeholders engagement in the software design and development processes, as opposed to an investigation into the suitability of the learning processes adopted from an instructional perspective. The findings of this research present a four-level 'workable process' that can be used to guide design teams through the process of software development. A contextual review of the area in which the software is to be embedded, and an analysis of the needs of the various participants, is considered pivotal to the success of this four-level process. The findings also emphasise the importance of collaborative teamwork, and furthermore the engagement of design team members in a dialectical process in consensus formation, as being critical to the successful implementation of this 'workable process'

E-Ticketing System and Integration with Third Parties Scrum-Based

SCRUM is a software development life cycle that will work with collaboration to produce products quickly but still provide quality. By using SCRUM, it will increase productivity and increase mutual trust, togetherness, responsibility, ideas communication and creativity of team members. The stakeholder's expectation to build an e-ticketing system fits with the agile nature of SCRUM. Every process in SCRUM must run well starting from data collection, needs analysis, making product backlog, making sprint backlog, daily scrum meeting, sprint review until sprint retrospective must be carried out to achieve success. The applications built in this research will run on web browsers, android and API designs to be integrated with other applications. The research was conducted for two months by working on three product backlogs, then each product backlog would be broken down into three sprints. The results obtained in the study were able to answer the question of the problem that was built with the conclusion that the product owner's ability to communicate with stakeholders and daily scrum meetings was necessary indetermining success in SCRU

Scrum project framework: exploring Agile project management in a non-ITC organisation

This study used the Agile modality Scrum to investigate practitioners’ perceptions of the Scrum project framework and evaluated the frequency, mode and tools of communication in successful projects using the Scrum framework, whilst identifying any problems arising from the introduction of Scrum. A review of the literature highlighted the effectiveness of Scrum in studies that applied Agile project management in an IT environment. The literature identified that small cross-functional teams, frequent communication, quality communication, clear project goals and project transparency are effective for project management success. This research investigated five projects, as a case study, using Scrum as the project management framework, within small cross-functional teams in the non-ITC environment. This case study analysed the post-Scrum project team retrospective meetings to identify common themes in the participants feedback relating to the effectiveness of Scrum as a project management framework. Common themes identified were communication tools, project clarity, participant accountability and project momentum. These identified themes were used to create a survey artefact to investigate the legitimacy of the identified themes. The legitimacy of the retrospective common themes was confirmed by the survey responses through qualitative and supporting quantitative analysis, indicating Scrum as an effective project management framework outside the software development arena. Participant responses indicated the efficacy of daily communication frequency through the stand-up meetings, and project clarity and individual accountability through the use of Scrum board. Findings of the survey indicated the daily stand-up meeting was most effective communication mode and tool to facilitate interaction and exchange of information during the projects. The study identified a problem of perceived harassment, relating to the level of accountability/transparency of the Scrum process

A Rapid Scoping Review on Academic Integrity and Algorithmic Writing Technologies

This presentation provides insight into the development and findings of a rapid scoping review centred on the intersections of academic integrity and artificial intelligence, with particular attention to algorithmic writing technologies (e.g., ChatGPT) involving faculty, students, teaching assistants, academic student support staff, and educational developers in higher education contexts. This rapid scoping review was developed by a transdisciplinary team including Communication studies, Education, Engineering, and English, and followed Joanna Brigg Institute’s (JBI) updated manual for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) reporting standards. JBI provides a high-quality, trusted framework for conducting these kinds of studies. This inquiry’s study design includes qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, theoretical and opinion studies; additionally, this inquiry did not restrict studies by geographic location and focused on sources written in English. This review’s studies involved faculty, students, teaching assistants, academic support staff, and educational developers in higher education. It also included studies about artificial intelligence in the context of academic integrity, focusing on artificial intelligence tools that assist text generation and writing developed in Tertiary type A and B postsecondary education. Studies excluded from this review were related to primary and secondary education contexts, did not address the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, and focused on text plagiarism software. The protocol of this rapid review was published in the Canadian Perspectives on Academic Integrity Journal. Its implementation helped this team identify various ethical implications signalled by scholars between 2007 and 2022. Considering the expansive emergence of these technologies and the multiple positionings derived from these new and unprecedented encounters with such technology, we believe that the implications identified in this rapid scoping review are particularly relevant to inform academic staff, administration, students, and academic integrity researchers’ ethical decision-making and practices when teaching, learning, designing, and implementing assessments, and doing research. The findings of this rapid scoping review encompass nuanced perspectives concerning the ethical and unethical uses of these emerging technologies and insights into equity, diversity, and inclusion issues

Dynamic distributed knowledge work - Collaboration and productivity factors in the context of global software development

This master's thesis examines factors that influence on collaboration and productivity in dynamically distributed knowledge work with a case in global software development (GSD). The topic is studied by the methods of a literature review, case study approach, qualitative semi-structured interviews and content analysis of the collected interview material. The thesis contributes to and was conducted in collaboration with a Tekes-funded joint research program, DD-SCALE (2014-2016). The theoretical frame of the thesis was constructed based on a literature review of previous GSD research on team collaboration and productivity. This frame was used as a basis for the empirical part of the study with the aim to complement, strengthen and expand the findings of previous research. The interviews were conducted in India with managerial level information and communication technology (ICT) research and development (R&D) professionals of a case company that has multiple software R&D locations around the globe. As a result, a set of 217 factors in 16 categories and seven higher level viewpoints that concern issues of cross-boundary collaboration, competence and knowledge, improving practices and processes, socio-cultural aspects, human capabilities and characteristics, management and leadership, and tools and infrastructure was gathered. The findings are in line with previous GSD research, and they indicate that factors impacting collaboration and productivity of distributed teams are interdependent, embedded in different organizational layers, and especially linked to the areas of human related, management practices and technical factors in organizations. Moreover, the findings point to the importance of enabling maturity, evolution and continuum in teams to support the accumulation of capabilities and (intellectual) capital in a dynamic and fast changing business environment. It is thereby suggested that the dimension of continuity as an enabler for accumulating competency, growing team relations, team and organizational evolution and maturity should be further addressed in GSD research to support enhanced collaboration and productivity

Media design in the strategy of emotional relationship with elderly people: Case study – “Volto Já” project

This article reports a case study through the description of the communication process and definition of graphic identity, production, and broadcast media made for the multidisciplinary scope of a project ("VOLTO JÁ" project) for an elderly audience. The project VOLTO JÁ aims to implement a senior social exchange program in social economy organizations, seeking to promote tourism experiences for the elderly and highlighting active aging. The business model was based on the sharing of resources to enhance the value proposition and will be supported by an information and communication technologies (ICT) platform. The project, financed under the FCT program: Scientific Research and Technological Development Projects (2016), was completed in February 2021, involving a multidisciplinary team, with different skills, to achieve the objectives initially stipulated, highlighting four areas of knowledge that were fundamental to its success, namely, the areas of Management, Tourism, Computer Engineering, and Design. A research and development team from two polytechnics higher education institutions (Polytechnic Institute of Santarém and Polytechnic Institute of Beja) also had a Social Economy Organization, the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santarém as a partner. In this article, we will focus on the work done by the team responsible for the Design and Communication of the project belonging to the Polytechnic Institute of Beja. Thus, the research carried out within the scope of VOLTO JÁ intending to validate a business model proposal based on a service provided by an online technological platform, which promotes: in a first phase, contact between residential structures for the elderly; and, in a second phase, the mobility of the institutionalized elderly according to tourist packages provided by the platform, led us to the need to problematize the communication strategy and the means to be used in the relationship with target audience and all stakeholders. According to the business model validation methodology adopted by the team, namely the Business Model Canvas proposed by Osterwalder & Pigneur (2010), we start from the problematics: 1- How to create and maintain the relationship and the level of involvement of all stakeholders involved with the service offered by the platform? In this case, a platform that allows contact between the residential structures for the elderly, it facilitates the planning of tourist packages, as well as the programming of the mobility of the elderly; 2 - What are the aspects to be taken into account in a communication more oriented to a more senior public, aiming to define aesthetic, cognitive, but also emotional factors? In this way, the team established the main objectives to be achieved, taking into account the project’s characterization: a) to define the communication plan; b) to implement the communication channels that would activate the project simultaneously with its validation; c) to define a graphic identity for effective communication, adaptable to various communication materials required for project development and dissemination; d) to implement digital communication channels and the production of content that would simultaneously allow the involvement of the “elderly” and those responsible for the institutions; e) to schedule web marketing campaigns to activate the project, and consequently, the respective validation through the collection of metrics appropriate to verify the interest in the project/platform; f) to define an user interface and user experience design of the software platform enabling social economy institutions to join senior exchange program, seeking to continue the graphic identity created for the project. The research took on an exploratory case study based on the VOLTO JÁ project, ensuring the validity of the research construct by adopting different sources of chained evidence. We propose to present activities’ outcomes trying to answer the anticipated objectives, through a methodology based on literature review in Communication and in Design fields. Thus, the study was based on a project methodology in design and in the guidelines for the applicability of the design thinking method, based on the recommendations of the Design Council and Interaction Design Foundation. The Design Council describes the design process in five stages and considers that all designers must comply with them when carrying out a project (first steps, research, planning, communication, and implementation), in order to determine, in an initial phase, the design problem and then research the needs that are implied, always bearing in mind the user and its behaviors and, thus, give an effective and reasoned answer at the end of the whole process (Visocky O'Grady & Visocky O'Grady, 2006). The creation of the graphic identity and the brand VOLTO JÁ followed the guidelines of Budelmann et al. (2010), Gomez-Palacio, & Vit (2009), Lupton (2011), and Olins (2010), but also some pertinent reflections highlighted by Norman (2004), oriented to the levels of emotional processing and Design strategies. A communication strategy more oriented to the target audience followed some guidelines previously defined by some authors, such as Silva et al. (2015), by giving Facebook a social support environment for the elderly. Literature review and empirical knowledge allowed the creation of quantitative data collection protocols which analysis ensured the reliability of the case study and its transferability. A web-based service implementation, with a value proposition aimed at promoting a business model in the field of senior tourism, requires the study of the digital communication strategy appropriate to the growing involvement of the target audience in the service development. Adopting appropriate metrics to assess the effectiveness of digital communication strategy also provides data for the development and validation of the business model. Consequently, it is intended to demonstrate activities carried out and that were put into practice, responding to the main objectives and challenges of the project, taking into account its specific target audience and stakeholders. We tried to focus on the fact that design and communication can be channels to promote social interaction. Through this case study and applying a user-centered strategy, we seek to contribute with particular solutions that can be applied in future projects in the social tourism area.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio