Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 234-252 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Expert systems |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Jul 2014 |
Abstract
Communication is a key success factor of distributed software projects. Poor communication has been identified as a main obstacle to successful collaboration. Global projects are especially endangered by information gaps between collaborating sites. Different communication styles, technical equipment, and missing awareness of each other can cause severe problems. Knowledge about actual and desired channels, paths, and modes of communication is required for improving communication in a globally distributed project. However, many project participants know little about communication and information flow in their projects. In this contribution, we focus on knowledge about communication and information flow. It is acquired by modelling on-going and desired flows of information, including documented and non-documented channels of information flow. We analyzed a distributed software project from the information flow perspective. Based on the findings, we developed specific techniques to improve information flow in distributed software development according to the FLOW Method. In a second distributed project, we evaluated one of the techniques. We found the FLOW mapping technique to be suitable for effectively spreading knowledge about communication and information flow in global software projects.
Keywords
- communication, distributed software development, global software engineering, information flow, knowledge management
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering(all)
- Control and Systems Engineering
- Mathematics(all)
- Theoretical Computer Science
- Computer Science(all)
- Computational Theory and Mathematics
- Computer Science(all)
- Artificial Intelligence
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In: Expert systems, Vol. 31, No. 3, 24.07.2014, p. 234-252.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Managing knowledge on communication and information flow in global software projects
AU - Stapel, Kai
AU - Schneider, Kurt
PY - 2014/7/24
Y1 - 2014/7/24
N2 - Communication is a key success factor of distributed software projects. Poor communication has been identified as a main obstacle to successful collaboration. Global projects are especially endangered by information gaps between collaborating sites. Different communication styles, technical equipment, and missing awareness of each other can cause severe problems. Knowledge about actual and desired channels, paths, and modes of communication is required for improving communication in a globally distributed project. However, many project participants know little about communication and information flow in their projects. In this contribution, we focus on knowledge about communication and information flow. It is acquired by modelling on-going and desired flows of information, including documented and non-documented channels of information flow. We analyzed a distributed software project from the information flow perspective. Based on the findings, we developed specific techniques to improve information flow in distributed software development according to the FLOW Method. In a second distributed project, we evaluated one of the techniques. We found the FLOW mapping technique to be suitable for effectively spreading knowledge about communication and information flow in global software projects.
AB - Communication is a key success factor of distributed software projects. Poor communication has been identified as a main obstacle to successful collaboration. Global projects are especially endangered by information gaps between collaborating sites. Different communication styles, technical equipment, and missing awareness of each other can cause severe problems. Knowledge about actual and desired channels, paths, and modes of communication is required for improving communication in a globally distributed project. However, many project participants know little about communication and information flow in their projects. In this contribution, we focus on knowledge about communication and information flow. It is acquired by modelling on-going and desired flows of information, including documented and non-documented channels of information flow. We analyzed a distributed software project from the information flow perspective. Based on the findings, we developed specific techniques to improve information flow in distributed software development according to the FLOW Method. In a second distributed project, we evaluated one of the techniques. We found the FLOW mapping technique to be suitable for effectively spreading knowledge about communication and information flow in global software projects.
KW - communication
KW - distributed software development
KW - global software engineering
KW - information flow
KW - knowledge management
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84904992708&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/exsy.649
DO - 10.1111/exsy.649
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84904992708
VL - 31
SP - 234
EP - 252
JO - Expert systems
JF - Expert systems
SN - 0266-4720
IS - 3
ER -