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Cognitive Challenges for novice Software Development Teams

Helgesson, Daniel LU ; Appelquist, Daniel and Runeson, Per LU orcid (2022) 33rd Annual Workshop of the Psychology of Programming Interest Group p.197-215
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this paper is to identify the largest cognitive challenges faced by novices, developing software in teams, using distributed cognition as an observational filter.
Paradigm: Design science
Epistemology: Pragmatist
Methodology: Case study
Method: Using grounded theory, ethnography and multi method data collection, we conducted an observational study for two months following four 10-person novice agile teams, consisting of computer science students, tasked with developing software systems.
Result: This paper identifies version control and merge operations as the largest challenge faced by the novices, and provides a substantive theory generated from our empirical data explaining the observed... (More)
Objective: The purpose of this paper is to identify the largest cognitive challenges faced by novices, developing software in teams, using distributed cognition as an observational filter.
Paradigm: Design science
Epistemology: Pragmatist
Methodology: Case study
Method: Using grounded theory, ethnography and multi method data collection, we conducted an observational study for two months following four 10-person novice agile teams, consisting of computer science students, tasked with developing software systems.
Result: This paper identifies version control and merge operations as the largest challenge faced by the novices, and provides a substantive theory generated from our empirical data explaining the observed phenomena. The literature studies reveal that little research appears to have been carried out in the area of version control from a user perspective.
Limitations: A qualitative study on students is not applicable in all contexts, but the result is credible and grounded in data and substantiated by extant literature.
Conclusion: We conclude that our findings motivate further research on cognitive perspectives to guide improvement of software engineering and its tools. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
PPIG 2022 : Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Workshopof the Psychology of Programming Interest Group - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Workshopof the Psychology of Programming Interest Group
editor
Holland, Simon ; Petre, Marian ; Church, Luke and Marasoiu, Mariana
pages
197 - 215
publisher
Psychology of Programming Interest Group
conference name
33rd Annual Workshop of the Psychology of Programming Interest Group
conference dates
2022-09-05 - 2022-09-09
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1a60a507-dbde-40da-9671-fa7e1b7cd0e8
alternative location
https://www.ppig.org/files/2022-PPIG-33rd-helgesson.pdf
date added to LUP
2023-05-09 09:20:42
date last changed
2023-05-16 12:56:10
@inproceedings{1a60a507-dbde-40da-9671-fa7e1b7cd0e8,
  abstract     = {{Objective: The purpose of this paper is to identify the largest cognitive challenges faced by novices, developing software in teams, using distributed cognition as an observational filter.<br/>Paradigm: Design science <br/>Epistemology: Pragmatist <br/>Methodology: Case study<br/>Method: Using grounded theory, ethnography and multi method data collection, we conducted an observational study for two months following four 10-person novice agile teams, consisting of computer science students, tasked with developing software systems.<br/>Result: This paper identifies version control and merge operations as the largest challenge faced by the novices, and provides a substantive theory generated from our empirical data explaining the observed phenomena. The literature studies reveal that little research appears to have been carried out in the area of version control from a user perspective.<br/>Limitations: A qualitative study on students is not applicable in all contexts, but the result is credible and grounded in data and substantiated by extant literature.<br/>Conclusion: We conclude that our findings motivate further research on cognitive perspectives to guide improvement of software engineering and its tools.}},
  author       = {{Helgesson, Daniel and Appelquist, Daniel and Runeson, Per}},
  booktitle    = {{PPIG 2022 : Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Workshopof the Psychology of Programming Interest Group}},
  editor       = {{Holland, Simon and Petre, Marian and Church, Luke and Marasoiu, Mariana}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  pages        = {{197--215}},
  publisher    = {{Psychology of Programming Interest Group}},
  title        = {{Cognitive Challenges for novice Software Development Teams}},
  url          = {{https://www.ppig.org/files/2022-PPIG-33rd-helgesson.pdf}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}