Power and politics of user involvement in software development

Bano, M; Zowghi, D; Da Rimini, F

Power and politics of user involvement in software development

Bano, M

Zowghi, D

Da Rimini, F

Permalink

Publication Type:: Conference Proceeding
Citation:: ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 2018, Part F137700
Issue Date:: 2018-06-28

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Accepted ManuscriptAdobe PDF (786.42 kB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Bano, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1447-9521	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Zowghi, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6051-0155	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Da Rimini, F	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-06-28	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 2018, Part F137700	en_US
dc.identifier.isbn	9781450364034	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125927
dc.description.abstract	© 2018 Association for Computing Machinery. [CONTEXT] Involving users in software development is a complex and multi-faceted concept. Empirical research that studies power and politics of user involvement in software development is scarce. [OBJECTIVE] In this paper, we present the results from a case study of a software development project, where organizational politics was explored in context of user involvement in software development. [METHOD] We collected data through 30 interviews with 20 participants, attending workshops, observing project meetings, and analysing projects documents. The qualitative data was rigorously and iteratively analyzed. [RESULTS] The results indicate that the politics was a significant factor used to exert power and influence in decision-making processes. Communication channels were exploited for political purposes. These contributed to the users' dissatisfaction with their involvement thus impacting on the project outcome. [CONCLUSION] Having multiple teams of stakeholders with different levels of power in decision-making, the politics is inevitable and inescapable. Without careful attention, the political aspect of user involvement in software development can contribute to unsuccessful project.	en_US
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP0880853
dc.relation.ispartof	ACM International Conference Proceeding Series	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1145/3210459.3210477	en_US
dc.title	Power and politics of user involvement in software development	en_US
dc.type	Conference Proceeding
utslib.citation.volume	Part F137700	en_US
utslib.for	0803 Computer Software	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Graduate Research School
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/FASS Faculty Administration
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Social and Political Sciences Program
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - HCTD - Human Centred Technology Design
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - STEM Education Futures
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	Part F137700	en_US

Abstract:

© 2018 Association for Computing Machinery. [CONTEXT] Involving users in software development is a complex and multi-faceted concept. Empirical research that studies power and politics of user involvement in software development is scarce. [OBJECTIVE] In this paper, we present the results from a case study of a software development project, where organizational politics was explored in context of user involvement in software development. [METHOD] We collected data through 30 interviews with 20 participants, attending workshops, observing project meetings, and analysing projects documents. The qualitative data was rigorously and iteratively analyzed. [RESULTS] The results indicate that the politics was a significant factor used to exert power and influence in decision-making processes. Communication channels were exploited for political purposes. These contributed to the users' dissatisfaction with their involvement thus impacting on the project outcome. [CONCLUSION] Having multiple teams of stakeholders with different levels of power in decision-making, the politics is inevitable and inescapable. Without careful attention, the political aspect of user involvement in software development can contribute to unsuccessful project.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125927