Collaborative learning in software development: An investigation of characteristics, prerequisites and improvement

......................................................................................................................................... II PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................ III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .....................................................................................................................IV CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 RESEARCH CONTEXT ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 PROBLEM OUTLINE .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 RESEARCH PROBLEM AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS ................................................................................... 5 1.4 SCIENTIFIC POSITIONS ....................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 RESEARCH DESIGN ........................................................................................................................... 8 1.6 CLAIMED CONTRIBUTIONS ................................................................................................................. 8 1.6.1 Contribution of the conceptual framework ...................................................................... 9 1.6.2 Contribution of the selected papers .................................................................................. 9 1.6.3 Contribution of discussion............................................................................................... 14 1.7 DISSERTATION STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................. 15 CHAPTER 2: FUNDAMENTALS OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT....................................................... 16 2.1 CHALLENGES OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................ 17 2.2 THE ROLE OF COLLABORATION IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT .................................................................. 20 CHAPTER 3: COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH 26 3.1 FUNDAMENTALS OF KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING ................................................................................. 26 3.1.1 Knowledge and knowing ................................................................................................. 26 3.1.2 Individual learning .......................................................................................................... 30 3.1.3 Collective notions of learning.......................................................................................... 33 3.2 MOTIVATIONS FOR INTEGRATIVE RESEARCH ON COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ............................................... 41 3.2.1 Collaborative learning in software practice .................................................................... 42 3.2.2 Software process improvement ...................................................................................... 43 3.2.3 Socio-technical systems theory ....................................................................................... 44 3.2.4 Organization science and organizational learning ......................................................... 46 3.2.5 Computer supported learning and work ......................................................................... 49 3.2.6 Knowledge management ................................................................................................ 49 3.2.7 Structurational relations between people, technology and social systems .................... 50 3.2.8 Education discourse ........................................................................................................ 52 3.2.9 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 52 3.3 GUIDING RESEARCH PROBLEM AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS ..................................................................... 53 3.3.1 Research question 1: What are the characteristics of collaborative learning in software development? ............................................................................................................................... 54 3.3.2 Research question 2: What are the prerequisites for collaborative learning in software development? ............................................................................................................................... 54 3.3.3 Research problem: How can capabilities for collaborative learning in software development be improved?........................................................................................................... 54 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH APPROACH ............................................................................................... 55 4.1 THE INTERPRETIVE PARADIGM .......................................................................................................... 55 4.2 RESEARCH DESIGN ......................................................................................................................... 64 4.2.1 Stage 1: Problem framing case study (Investigation A) .................................................. 66 4.2.2 Stage 2: Elaborating action research; investigations B and C ........................................ 68 4.2.3 Stage 3: Conceptual modeling ........................................................................................ 74 4.2.4 Stage 4: Analysis and discussion ..................................................................................... 75 CHAPTER 5: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ................................ 78 5.1 CHARACTERISTICS OF COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ................................................................................. 78 5.1.1 Collective, situated performance .................................................................................... 79 5.1.2 Purposeful ....................................................................................................................... 81 5.1.3 Cooperative behavior ...................................................................................................... 82 5.1.4 Coordinated action ......................................................................................................... 83 5.1.5 Empowerment ................................................................................................................ 84 5.2 PREREQUISITES FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ................................................................................... 85 5.2.1 Participation ................................................................................................................... 86 5.2.2 Opportunities for learning .............................................................................................. 88 5.2.3 Knowledge diversity ........................................................................................................ 88 5.2.4 Knowledge redundancy .................................................................................................. 89 5.2.5 Proximity; physical or virtual .......................................................................................... 90 5.3 IMPROVING CAPABILITIES FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ...................................................................... 90 5.3.1 A re-orientation of values ............................................................................................... 92 5.3.2 Creating and exploring opportunities for collaborative learning .................................... 94 5.3.3 Socio-technical reconciliation ......................................................................................... 95 CHAPTER 6: EMPIRICAL RESULTS .................................................................................................. 97 6.1.1 Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 97 6.1.2 Prerequisites for collaborative learning ........................................................................ 101 6.1.3 Improving capabilities for collaborative learning ......................................................... 105 6.2 SUMMARY OF EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS ................................................................................................. 109 CHAPTER 7: DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................ 111 7.1 CHARACTERISTICS OF COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ........................................ 111 7.1.1 Collective, situated performance .................................................................................. 111 7.1.2 Purposeful ..................................................................................................................... 112 7.1.3 Cooperative behavior .................................................................................................... 113 7.1.4 Coordinated action ....................................................................................................... 114 7.1.5 Empowerment .............................................................................................................. 115 7.2 PREREQUISITES FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT .......................................... 116 7.2.1 Participation ................................................................................................................. 116 7.2.2 Opportunities for learning ............................................................................................ 117 7.2.3 Knowledge diversity ...................................................................................................... 118 7.2.4 Knowledge redundancy ................................................................................................ 119 7.2.5 Proximity; physical or virtual ........................................................................................ 120 7.3 IMPROVING COLLABORATIVE LEARNING CAPABILITY ............................................................................ 121 7.3.1 A re-orientation of values ............................................................................................. 121 7.3.2 Creating and exploring opportunities for collaborative learning .................................. 123 7.3.3 Socio-technical reconciliation ....................................................................................... 124 7.4 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. 125 CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................................................... 127 8.1 ADDRESSING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS ........................................................ 127 8.2 LIMITATIONS .............................................................................................................................. 128 8.3 IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ............................................................................................ 130 8.4 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE ......................................................................................................... 131 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................... 133 INDEX ............................................................................................................................................. 151 APPENDIX – SELECTED PAPERS....................................................................................................... 155