What is it about?
Software development is a collaborative process influenced by human and social factors. Cultural diversity has a profound impact, both positively and negatively, on this dynamic field. However, current research lacks a unified theory addressing how cultural differences affect and are managed in software development, resulting in fragmented knowledge and limited applicability to practitioners. To bridge this gap, this study introduces the “Dealing With Cultural Dispersion” framework. Developed through qualitative research methods, including interviews and socio-technical grounded theory, the framework sheds light on challenges and benefits arising from cultural differences in software teams. It serves a dual purpose: providing practitioners with a tool to understand and address cultural issues in their projects, and offering researchers a foundation to develop a more comprehensive theory in the field. By employing a holistic approach, the framework allows software teams to gain a clear understanding of cultural influences and implement tailored strategies for effective collaboration. This not only addresses current limitations in research but also empowers practitioners with a practical framework for navigating cultural diversity in the realm of software development.
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Why is it important?
Culture significantly influences individual decision-making, making it essential to understand its impact on software development. Recognizing and adapting to cultural differences can greatly enhance management practices and lead to more effective and harmonious software development processes.
Perspectives
Writing this article was incredibly important to me, as it represents the culmination of two years of meticulous research and dedication. I am particularly proud of the diverse composition of our research team, which includes not only computer scientists but also experts in management and cultural studies. This multidisciplinary approach enriches our insights and strengthens our conclusions. Furthermore, I believe this work is just the beginning, with the potential to evolve over the years and continually provide valuable lessons for both theory and practice.
Stefano Lambiase
Universita degli Studi di Salerno
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Dealing With Cultural Dispersion: a Novel Theoretical Framework for Software Engineering Research and Practice, April 2024, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3639475.3640105.
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