The scientific journal I have chosen is Information and Software Technology [1]. It has an impact factor of 1.046 and publishes papers which somehow improves the practice of software development. Many articles are relevant for a media technology student, as well as some more directed towards those studying computer science.
The paper I have chosen was published in Information and Software Technology 61 in 2015. Exploring principles of user-centered agile software development: A literature review was written by Manuel Brhel, Hendrik Meth, Alexander Maedche and Karl Werder. The paper looks into studies conducted in the field of user-centered agile software development (UCASD), a hybrid of agile software development and user-centerer design. Agile software development is characterised by the velocity and flexibility of its work while user-centered design always puts the user’s needs at the centre of its process (Brhel et al. 2015).
This hybrid approach has not existed for a very long time, but is gaining in popularity. The fact that it is such a new field makes this kind of literary review difficult to conduct, as there are not a large amount of literature out there, Brhel et al. do go in to great detail of how they took what was out there and tried to make sure the papers were relevant and well conducted. This selection of papers is always a weak point in literary reviews as it is necessary for someone to decide which papers to include and which not to, there will always be a subjective part in this selection.
The study maps UCASD practice as it is today, producing a coding system which illustrates how the process is carried out as well as guidelines for the practice of UCASD. These guidelines are presented in the form of five principles:
- Separate product discovery and product creation
- Iterative and incremental design and development
- Parallel interwoven creation tracks
- Continous stakeholder involvement
- Artifact-mediated communication
1. Briefly explain to a first year university student what theory is, and what theory is not
Theory in the everyday sense may be a concept or a notion about something, but theory in scientific research is a bit more complex.
In science there is a lack of consensus on exactly what theory is (Sutton & Staw 1995). But in the broad sense theory can be viewed as an interpretation of facts, an answer to questions as of why things are [2]. Theories also differ between different disciplines, a theory in mathematics and one in psychology will not be built the same way (Gregor 2006). Theories can for example analyse, explain and predict in different combinations.
One of the easiest thing to do when conducting scientific research is to mix up theory with other concepts. In their essay “What Theory is Not.” Sutton & Staw point out the differences between theory and references, data, lists of variables or constructs, diagrams and hypotheses or predictions. Theory differ from these concepts in the way that it explains why events, acts, structure and thought occur while the others mainly involve themselves with what occurs or has previously occurred.
2. Describe the major theory or theories that are used in your selected paper. Which theory type (see Table 2 in Gregor) can the theory or theories be characterized as?
I would classify the theory in the paper I have chosen as number II and V in Gregorg’s text, Explanation and Design and action. With the coding system mentioned above they explain how UCASD works today and why it works like this, making it an Explanatory theory according to Gergor’s five types.
With the five principles produced in the paper Brhel et al. describe how work in UCASD can be done efficiently and by doing this produce a Design and action theory which describes how to do something, work using UCASD in this case.
3. Which are the benefits and limitations of using the selected theory or theories?
When using theory II and V one effectively describes what is, how it is, why it is and where it is and at the same time provides guidelines and says how to do it. These theories in other words produce a wide picture not only of the current state of things, but also how one might accomplish that thing in the best manner. I would say the broad picture this produces is the largest benefit of using theory II and V.
What this approach lacks is some sort of prediction, it does not provide any information in regards to what could happen in the future and does not provide any testable propositions. The Design and action theory is not testable, nor is the Explanation one, what they do is provide a wide picture of the current state, but not one which can be tested. This is in my opinion the largest limitations of using these theories.
[2] http://www.fsteiger.com/theory.html
Brhel, M., Meth, H., Maedche, A., & Werder, K. (2015). Exploring principles of user-centered agile software development: A. Information and Software Technology, 61, 163-181.
Gregor, S. (2006). The Nature of Theory in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly, 30(3), 611-642.Brhel, M., Meth, H., Maedche, A., & Werder, K. (2015). Exploring principles of user-centered agile software development: A. Information and Software Technology, 61, 163-181.
Sutton, R. I. & Staw, B. M. (1995). What Theory is Not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(3), 371-384.
I like that you lined up the principles in the text. From my perspective, who have not have read the paper, it makes it neat and easy to understand what the text was about. Another thing that's neat is that you've put all your references at the bottom of the text, I like that. You've answered the questions in a good way, and to be honest, I can't really find anything to complain about in your text. Good job, keep it up!
SvaraRadera