How are project-specific forums utilized? A study of participation, content, and sentiment in the Eclipse ecosystem

AbstractAlthough many software development projects have moved their developer discussion forums to generic platforms such as Stack Overflow, Eclipse has been steadfast in hosting their self-supported community forums. While recent studies show forums share similarities to generic communication channels, it is unknown how project-specific forums are utilized. In this paper, we analyze 832,058 forum threads and their linkages to four systems with 2,170 connected contributors to understand the participation, content and sentiment. Results show that Seniors are the most active participants to respond bug and non-bug-related threads in the forums (i.e., 66.1% and 45.5%), and sentiment among developers are inconsistent while knowledge sharing within Eclipse. We recommend the users to identify appropriate topics and ask in a positive procedural way when joining forums. For developers, preparing project-specific forums could be an option to bridge the communication between members. Irrespective of the popularity of Stack Overflow, we argue the benefits of using project-specific forum initiatives, such as GitHub Discussions, are needed to cultivate a community and its ecosystem.

Download Full-text

Methodology Fit in Offshoring Software Development Projects

Information Resources Management Journal ◽

10.4018/irmj.2014100104 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 66-81

Author(s):

Peng Xu ◽

Yurong Yao

Keyword(s):

Software Development ◽

Knowledge Sharing ◽

Project Performance ◽

Viable Alternative ◽

Development Projects ◽

Relational Capital ◽

Software Companies ◽

Development Costs ◽

Labor Resources ◽

The Impact

Offshoring has become a viable alternative for companies to lower software development costs and leverage labor resources worldwide. To achieve success in offshoring software development projects, a vendor must choose appropriate development methodologies. This study aims to examine how methodology fit affects offshoring project performance. It proposes that methodology fit affects project performance through interfirm knowledge sharing between vendors and clients. In addition, the impact of methodology fit on knowledge sharing is dependent on relational capital between vendors and clients. A survey was conducted among software companies in China that provide offshoring services. 108 completed questionnaires were collected. The results confirm this article's hypotheses.

Download Full-text

An Insider’s Perspective of Knowledge Sharing in Software Development Projects

Journal of Information & Knowledge Management ◽

10.1142/s0219649221500301 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 2150030

Author(s):

Lucas Thulani Khoza ◽

Kelvin Joseph Bwalya

Keyword(s):

Software Development ◽

Knowledge Sharing ◽

Information Needs ◽

Resistance To Change ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Current Debate ◽

Development Projects ◽

Types Of Knowledge ◽

Development Context ◽

Agile Software

In order to achieve agility in software development, there is a need to ensure that the knowledge generated is seamlessly shared among the teams involved. Different contexts face unique contextual motivators and challenges towards achieving efficient knowledge sharing in software development firms. Overcoming these challenges starts from understanding the contextual nuances at play in the environment, in which knowledge sharing is desired. With increased need for ubiquitous and on-the-go information needs in agile software development projects, understanding the need for effective knowledge sharing platforms is important. The general scarcity of empirical studies has culminated into lack of in-depth global or local insights on knowledge sharing. This research investigates the different contours of knowledge sharing in a software development context in South Africa. Quantitative data collected using a questionnaire with closed-ended questions were analysed using an interpretive and deductive approach. Findings of this research reveal that job security, motivation, time constraints, psychological factors, communication, resistance to change, and rewards are core factors for knowledge sharing in software development projects. Compared with the global context, this research is aligned with other findings with new additions on the grouping of factors influencing knowledge sharing in software development projects. The study discusses the types of knowledge considered useful to share, presents appropriate ways of sharing such useful knowledge and articulates how different types of knowledge are shared in the South African context. This research contributes to the current debate on challenges in knowledge sharing within software development projects in developing world contexts and discusses how software development companies may ensure that triple constraints (time, cost and scope) are overcome.

Download Full-text

How do team cohesion and psychological safety impact knowledge sharing in software development projects?

Knowledge and Process Management ◽

10.1002/kpm.1584 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 258-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Adarsh Kumar Kakar

Keyword(s):

Software Development ◽

Knowledge Sharing ◽

Psychological Safety ◽

Team Cohesion ◽

Development Projects

Download Full-text

Methodology Fit in Offshoring Software Development Projects

Information Resources Management Journal ◽

10.4018/irmj.2015070104 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 42-58

Author(s):

Peng Xu ◽

Yurong Yao

Keyword(s):

Software Development ◽

Knowledge Sharing ◽

Project Performance ◽

Viable Alternative ◽

Development Projects ◽

Relational Capital ◽

Software Companies ◽

Development Costs ◽

Labor Resources ◽

The Impact

Offshoring has become a viable alternative for companies to lower software development costs and leverage labor resources worldwide. To achieve success in offshoring software development projects, a vendor must choose appropriate development methodologies. This study aims to examine how methodology fit affects offshoring project performance. The authors propose that methodology fit affects project performance through interfirm knowledge sharing between vendors and clients. In addition, the impact of methodology fit on knowledge sharing is dependent on relational capital between vendors and clients. A survey was conducted among software companies in China that provide offshoring services. 108 completed questionnaires were collected. The results confirm the authors' hypotheses.

Download Full-text

Factors negatively influencing knowledge sharing in software development

SA Journal of Information Management ◽

10.4102/sajim.v19i1.776 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lucas T. Khoza ◽

Agnieta B. Pretorius

Keyword(s):

Software Development ◽

Knowledge Sharing ◽

Resistance To Change ◽

Stock Exchange ◽

Development Projects ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Physiological Factors ◽

Johannesburg Stock Exchange ◽

Key Factor ◽

Information And Communication

Background: ‘Knowledge is power’ and software developing organisations are dependent on knowledge to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage. Subsequently, knowledge sharing is a key factor for modern software developing organisations to succeed in today’s competitive environment. For software developing organisations to reach their goals and objectives, knowledge sharing – and in particular the sharing of useful knowledge – needs to be targeted. To promote knowledge sharing, factors influencing knowledge sharing need to be identified and understood.Objective: This study seeks to identify factors that negatively influence knowledge sharing in software development in the developing country context.Method: Expert sampling as a subcategory of purposive sampling was employed to extract information, views and opinions from experts in the field of information and communication technology, more specifically from those who are involved in software development projects. Four Johannesburg-based software developing organisations listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), South Africa, participated in this research study. Quantitative data were collected using an online questionnaire with closed-ended questions.Results: Findings of this research reveal that job security, motivation, time constraints, physiological factors, communication, resistance to change and rewards are core factors negatively influencing knowledge sharing in software developing organisations.Conclusions: Improved understanding of factors negatively influencing knowledge sharing is expected to assist software developing organisations in closing the gap for software development projects failing to meet the triple constraint of time, cost and scope.

Download Full-text