An empirical model of software managers' information needs for software engineering technology selection

Viac o knihe

The current landscape of technology selection in software engineering resembles a patient acquiring a medication without accessible information on its appropriateness for their condition. Access to relevant information is crucial for informed decision-making, especially when introducing new software technologies. Limited information regarding a technology's benefits and risks can significantly affect decision outcomes. While empirical software engineering aims to provide evidence of these benefits, its findings often go unrecognized in industry due to a lack of relevant reporting for software managers. Consequently, empirical results are seldom utilized in decision-making processes. To address this gap, we characterized and formalized the information needs of software managers, integrating insights from senior management. This led to a model that specifies the critical information required for technology selection decisions. We developed a repository integrated into a framework for technology selection, facilitating goal-oriented access to experimental evidence. Additionally, we proposed enhancements to existing reporting guidelines to include sections addressing these information needs. An empirical study demonstrated that software managers who received reports aligned with our model could better assess a technology's suitability compared to those who did not. Our findings indicate that providing specific information about t