article

A lightweight framework for describing software practices

Authors:

Ewan TemperoAuthors Info & Claims

Journal of Systems and Software, Volume 85, Issue 3

Pages 582 - 595

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2011.09.024

Published: 01 March 2012 Publication History

Abstract

In order to maximise software project outcomes, software organisations adapt development methodologies and implement practices in a way that is appropriate for project contexts. This suggests that 'Best Practice' is context-dependent. To better understand the contextual nature of best practice, we want to explore how organisations actually go about achieving software objectives. We require a research framework that captures this information in a way that makes no assumptions about practices and that is descriptive in nature. We have developed a framework based on the perspective that practices exist to meet specific objectives. We have experimented with the framework by using it to capture the practices of three New Zealand organisations and by application to an idealised XP process. Our capture of organisational practices revealed interesting mechanisms for further study, including a dependence upon informal practices linked with strong communication and the idea of 'push' versus 'pull' for information elicitation. Our capture of XP exposed some context-dependent risks.

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Cited By

Kirk DScholliers CSinger J(2022)Exploring Task Equivalence for Software Engineering Practice Adaptation and ReplacementProceedings of the 2022 ACM SIGPLAN International Symposium on New Ideas, New Paradigms, and Reflections on Programming and Software10.1145/3563835.3567656(33-47)Online publication date: 29-Nov-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3563835.3567656
Clear T(2018)THINKING ISSUESGlobal software engineering and scaled agileACM Inroads10.1145/32339889:3(38-39)Online publication date: 15-Aug-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3233988
Lal RClear TPaasivaara MŠmite DEvaristo R(2018)Enhancing product and service capability through scaling agility in a global software vendor environmentProceedings of the 13th International Conference on Global Software Engineering10.1145/3196369.3196378(59-68)Online publication date: 27-May-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3196369.3196378
Show More Cited By

A lightweight framework for describing software practices
1. Software and its engineering
  1. Software creation and management

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cover image Journal of Systems and Software

Journal of Systems and Software Volume 85, Issue 3

March, 2012

311 pages

ISSN:0164-1212

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © Elsevier Inc. © 2011.

Publisher

Elsevier Science Inc.

United States

Publication History

Published: 01 March 2012

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Cited By

Kirk DScholliers CSinger J(2022)Exploring Task Equivalence for Software Engineering Practice Adaptation and ReplacementProceedings of the 2022 ACM SIGPLAN International Symposium on New Ideas, New Paradigms, and Reflections on Programming and Software10.1145/3563835.3567656(33-47)Online publication date: 29-Nov-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3563835.3567656
Clear T(2018)THINKING ISSUESGlobal software engineering and scaled agileACM Inroads10.1145/32339889:3(38-39)Online publication date: 15-Aug-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3233988
Lal RClear TPaasivaara MŠmite DEvaristo R(2018)Enhancing product and service capability through scaling agility in a global software vendor environmentProceedings of the 13th International Conference on Global Software Engineering10.1145/3196369.3196378(59-68)Online publication date: 27-May-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3196369.3196378
Fontana RMeyer VReinehr SMalucelli A(2015)Progressive OutcomesJournal of Systems and Software10.1016/j.jss.2014.12.032102:C(88-108)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2015
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.jss.2014.12.032
Fontana RReinehr SMalucelli A(2014)Maturing in agileAgile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming10.5555/2813544.2813551(94-109)Online publication date: 26-May-2014
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/2813544.2813551
Kirk DMacDonell SShepperd MHall TMyrtveit I(2014)Investigating a conceptual construct for software contextProceedings of the 18th International Conference on Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineering10.1145/2601248.2601263(1-10)Online publication date: 13-May-2014
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2601248.2601263

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