Imparting the importance of culture to global software development

Abstract

Professional software development is normally team based and is recognised as a socio-technical activity. In recent years, this has been coupled with the increasing popularity of outsourcing and offshoring software development. These are two significant issues, which need to be considered and recognized. As educators, it is important that we prepare our students, at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level to make informed and meaningful contributions to the industry they plan to enter. To facilitate this we need to consider providing modules that outline the benefits and problems associated with globally distributed software development. As research has identified, a key element of any such module is the importance and impact that cultural diversity plays. To facilitate understanding in this area, students can benefit from knowledge of the literature on culture. This can provide essential information which allows them to understand the broader aspects of this important topic. In this paper, global software development and culture are placed in context. A summary of relevant literature with respect to culture is presented and discussed. Details of modules on the topic of global software development for both undergraduates and postgraduates, which utilised this literature, are outlined. The results from an inductive study carried out with some of the students who undertook these modules are also presented and discussed.