Dimensions of Consistency in GSD: Social Factors, Structures and Interactions

Abstract

Global software development (GSD) implies a distributed<br/>development organization, where coordination is needed to efficiently<br/>achieve development objectives. So far, socio-technical congruence has<br/>examined coordination needs and activities through software code dependencies.<br/>However, GSD requires coordination beyond software artifacts.<br/>In this paper, we present an interview-based study of software practitioners<br/>from companies engaged in GSD. The study examines how different<br/>dimensions of interactions are interrelated, and how they affect software<br/>development. Our study suggests that, in addition to the relationship between<br/>organizational and technical system structure, GSD performance<br/>is affected by consistency in communication, operational procedures, and<br/>social structures. These can only partially be impacted through formal<br/>procedures, and we suggest that distributing coordination work by empowering<br/>developers could lead to increased performance.