Managing Power Gaps as an Element of Pair Programming Skill: A Grounded Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores how Power Gaps, caused by Knowledge Gaps and Hierarchical Behavior, can undermine pair programming sessions despite high Togetherness, and suggests strategies to mitigate them.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of Power Gaps in pair programming, explaining their formation, effects, and ways to prevent them through Equalizing Behavior.

Findings

Power Gaps can cause dysfunctional sessions despite high Togetherness.

Knowledge Gaps and Hierarchical Behavior contribute to Power Gaps.

Equalizing Behavior can reduce or prevent Power Gaps.

Abstract

Background: In pair programming, Togetherness (the partners understand each other's mental state well) is a main success factor. Maintaining high Togetherness is an element of pair programming skill. Some sessions appear to go badly although Togetherness appears good. Objective: Understand under what circumstances this is possible. Method: Grounded Theory Methodology based on 21 recorded pair programming sessions with 22 developers from 5 German software companies and 6 interviews with different developers from 4 other German companies. Results: We explain how a Power Gap can make a session dysfunctional despite the presence of high Togetherness, how it comes into existence due to a Knowledge Gap and Hierarchical Behavior, why its consequences (Defensive Behavior and Disengaging Behavior) are problematic, and how it can be reduced or prevented by Equalizing Behavior. Conclusions: Pair programming practitioners can improve their pair programming skill by unlearning problematic behaviors related to Power Gaps and by learning to recognize Power Gaps and apply Equalizing Behavior.