A Theory of Value for Value-Based Feature Selection in Software Engineering
(2022) In IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 48(2). p.466-484- Abstract
Value-Based Software Engineering stresses the role of value in software related decisions. In the context of feature selection, software features judged to provide higher value take priority in the development process. This paper focuses on what value means when selecting software features. Using grounded theory, we conducted and analyzed semi-structured interviews with 21 key stakeholders (decision-makers) from three software/software-intensive companies, within a context where value-based decision-making was already established. Our analysis led to the building of a theory of value for value-based feature selection that identifies the nature of value propositions considered by key stakeholders when selecting software features (i.e.,... (More)
Value-Based Software Engineering stresses the role of value in software related decisions. In the context of feature selection, software features judged to provide higher value take priority in the development process. This paper focuses on what value means when selecting software features. Using grounded theory, we conducted and analyzed semi-structured interviews with 21 key stakeholders (decision-makers) from three software/software-intensive companies, within a context where value-based decision-making was already established. Our analysis led to the building of a theory of value for value-based feature selection that identifies the nature of value propositions considered by key stakeholders when selecting software features (i.e., decision-making criteria for deciding upon software features, as suggested by Boehm (2003)). We found that some value propositions were common to all three company cases (core value propositions), whereas others were dependent upon the context in which a company operates, and the characteristics of the product under development (specific value propositions). Moreover, value propositions vary according to the stakeholder group and the type of feature being assessed. Our study provides significant insight into value in the context of feature selection, and generates new concepts around value-based feature selection such as new value propositions.
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- author
- Rodríguez, Pilar ; Urquhart, Cathy LU and Mendes, Emilia
- publishing date
- 2022-02-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Decision-making, Decision-making criteria, Decision-making theory, Feature selection, Grounded-theory, Release planning, Requirements engineering, Software products, Software value, Software-intensive systems, Theory development, Value proposition, Value-based software engineering (VBSE)
- in
- IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
- volume
- 48
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 19 pages
- publisher
- IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85108508991
- ISSN
- 0098-5589
- DOI
- 10.1109/TSE.2020.2989666
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Funding Information: We would like to thank the companies that collaborated with us for its commitment and in-kind time. This research has been carried out within the FiDiPro project number 40150/14, which was funded by Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation). Publisher Copyright: © 1976-2012 IEEE.
- id
- 51fe3baa-b087-4fee-98fb-6e5d28a197bd
- date added to LUP
- 2023-11-22 14:29:01
- date last changed
- 2023-11-23 10:20:59
@article{51fe3baa-b087-4fee-98fb-6e5d28a197bd,
abstract = {{<p>Value-Based Software Engineering stresses the role of value in software related decisions. In the context of feature selection, software features judged to provide higher value take priority in the development process. This paper focuses on what value means when selecting software features. Using grounded theory, we conducted and analyzed semi-structured interviews with 21 key stakeholders (decision-makers) from three software/software-intensive companies, within a context where value-based decision-making was already established. Our analysis led to the building of a theory of value for value-based feature selection that identifies the nature of value propositions considered by key stakeholders when selecting software features (i.e., decision-making criteria for deciding upon software features, as suggested by Boehm (2003)). We found that some value propositions were common to all three company cases (core value propositions), whereas others were dependent upon the context in which a company operates, and the characteristics of the product under development (specific value propositions). Moreover, value propositions vary according to the stakeholder group and the type of feature being assessed. Our study provides significant insight into value in the context of feature selection, and generates new concepts around value-based feature selection such as new value propositions.</p>}},
author = {{Rodríguez, Pilar and Urquhart, Cathy and Mendes, Emilia}},
issn = {{0098-5589}},
keywords = {{Decision-making; Decision-making criteria; Decision-making theory; Feature selection; Grounded-theory; Release planning; Requirements engineering; Software products; Software value; Software-intensive systems; Theory development; Value proposition; Value-based software engineering (VBSE)}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{02}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{466--484}},
publisher = {{IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.}},
series = {{IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering}},
title = {{A Theory of Value for Value-Based Feature Selection in Software Engineering}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TSE.2020.2989666}},
doi = {{10.1109/TSE.2020.2989666}},
volume = {{48}},
year = {{2022}},
}