Soft Sides of Software

TL;DR

This paper discusses the importance of social and psychological factors in software engineering, emphasizing the need for a focus on individual and team development to adapt to rapid technological changes.

Contribution

It highlights the often-overlooked social and psychological aspects of software engineering and advocates for more research into software psychology for improved effectiveness.

Findings

Organizations with learning cultures facilitate easier adaptation to change.

Current industry focus is short-sighted, neglecting individual and team capacity building.

Promotes increased research into software psychology for personal and professional growth.

Abstract

Software is a field of rapid changes: the best technology today becomes obsolete in the near future. If we review the graduate attributes of any of the software engineering programs across the world, life-long learning is one of them. The social and psychological aspects of professional development is linked with rewards. In organizations, where people are provided with learning opportunities and there is a culture that rewards learning, people embrace changes easily. However, the software industry tends to be short-sighted and its primary focus is more on current project success; it usually ignores the capacity building of the individual or team. It is hoped that our software engineering colleagues will be motivated to conduct more research into the area of software psychology so as to understand more completely the possibilities for increased effectiveness and personal fulfillment among software engineers working alone and in teams.