A lightweight framework for describing software practices

In order to maximise software project outcomes, software organisations adapt development methodologies and implement practices in a way that is appropriate for project contexts. This suggests that ‘Best Practice’ is context-dependent. To better understand the contextual nature of best practice, we want to explore how organisations actually go about achieving software objectives. We require a research framework that captures this information in a way that makes no assumptions about practices and that is descriptive in nature. We have developed a framework based on the perspective that practices exist to meet specific objectives. We have experimented with the framework by using it to capture the practices of three New Zealand organisations and by application to an idealised XP process. Our capture of organisational practices revealed interesting mechanisms for further study, including a dependence upon informal practices linked with strong communication and the idea of ‘push’ versus ‘pull’ for information elicitation. Our capture of XP exposed some context-dependent risks.

► We create an assumption-free framework for describing software practices. ► The framework premise is that practices exist to meet specific business objectives. ► We applied the framework to capture the practices in three organisations. ► This exposed the use of a “pull” mechanism for understanding requirements. ► We also capture the practices for an ideal and in-context XP process.