A Systematic Literature Review on Intertemporal Choice in Software Engineering - Protocol and Results

TL;DR

This paper systematically reviews how intertemporal decision making in software engineering is studied, analyzing assumptions, empirical research, and the role of time to develop descriptive frameworks for practical decision analysis.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive characterization of assumptions and empirical findings on intertemporal choices in software engineering, supporting framework development.

Findings

Identification of key assumptions in intertemporal decision studies

Analysis of how time influences decision-making in SE

Development of descriptive frameworks for empirical research

Abstract

When making choices in software projects, engineers and other stakeholders engage in decision making that involves uncertain future outcomes. Research in psychology, behavioral economics and neuroscience has questioned many of the classical assumptions of how such decisions are made. This literature review aims to characterize the assumptions that underpin the study of these decisions in Software Engineering. We identify empirical research on this subject and analyze how the role of time has been characterized in the study of decision making in SE. The literature review aims to support the development of descriptive frameworks for empirical studies of intertemporal decision making in practice.