In Quest for Proper Mediums for Technology Transfer in Software Engineering

TL;DR

This study explores the effectiveness of various mediums for technology transfer in software engineering, identifying barriers like low usefulness expectations and lack of awareness, highlighting the need for better dissemination strategies.

Contribution

It provides an empirical analysis of transfer mediums and barriers in software engineering, emphasizing the importance of dissemination planning for successful research-to-practice transfer.

Findings

Main barriers include low usefulness expectations and lack of awareness.

Outdated or immature transfer materials hinder effectiveness.

Dissemination plan deficiencies are linked to transfer failures.

Abstract

Successful transfer of the results of research projects into practice is of great interest to all project participants. It can be assumed that different transfer mediums fulfill technology transfer (TT) with different levels of success and that they are impaired by different kinds of barriers. The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding about the different mediums used for TT in software engineering, and to identify barriers weakening the success of the application of such mediums. We conducted an exploratory study implemented by a survey in the context of a German research project with a broad range of used mediums. The main reported barriers were low expectations of usefulness, no awareness of existence, lack of resources, or inadequateness in terms of outdated material or being in an immature state. We interpreted our results as symptoms of a lack of a dissemination plan in the project. Further work will be needed to explore the implications for the transfer of research results (knowledge and techniques) to practice.