Methods as theories: Evidence and arguments for theorizing on software development

Steve Sawyer; Hala Annabi

doi:10.1007/0-387-34588-4_26

Methods as theories: Evidence and arguments for theorizing on software development

Steve Sawyer, Hala Annabi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/Poem › Chapter

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this paper we argue that software development methods represent theories on how best to engage the impressively complex and inherently socio-technical activity of making software. To help illustrate our points we draw on examples of three software methods: the waterfall approach, packaged software development, and free/libre and open source software development, In doing this, we highlight that software development methods reflect - too often implicitly - theories of (1) how people should behave, (2) how groups of people should interact, (3) the tasks that people should do, (4) the order of these tasks, (5) the tools needed to achieve these tasks, (6) the proper outcomes of these tasks, (7) the means to make this all happen, and (8) that these relations among concepts are further set in specific social, cultural, economic, and industrial contexts. We conclude by highlighting three trends in conceptualizing these eight elements.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Social Inclusion
Subtitle of host publication	Societal and Organizational Implications for Information Systems: IFIP TC8 WG8.2 International Working Conference
Editors	Eileen Trauth, Debra Howcroft, Tom Butler, Tom Butler, Janice DeGross
Pages	397-411
Number of pages	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-34588-4_26
State	Published - 2006
Externally published	Yes

Publication series

Name	IFIP International Federation for Information Processing
Volume	208
ISSN (Print)	1571-5736

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Information Systems and Management

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10.1007/0-387-34588-4_26

Cite this

Sawyer, S., & Annabi, H. (2006). Methods as theories: Evidence and arguments for theorizing on software development. In E. Trauth, D. Howcroft, T. Butler, T. Butler, & J. DeGross (Eds.), Social Inclusion: Societal and Organizational Implications for Information Systems: IFIP TC8 WG8.2 International Working Conference (pp. 397-411). (IFIP International Federation for Information Processing; Vol. 208). https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-34588-4_26

Methods as theories: Evidence and arguments for theorizing on software development. / Sawyer, Steve; Annabi, Hala.
Social Inclusion: Societal and Organizational Implications for Information Systems: IFIP TC8 WG8.2 International Working Conference. ed. / Eileen Trauth; Debra Howcroft; Tom Butler; Tom Butler; Janice DeGross. 2006. p. 397-411 (IFIP International Federation for Information Processing; Vol. 208).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/Poem › Chapter

Sawyer, S & Annabi, H 2006, Methods as theories: Evidence and arguments for theorizing on software development. in E Trauth, D Howcroft, T Butler, T Butler & J DeGross (eds), Social Inclusion: Societal and Organizational Implications for Information Systems: IFIP TC8 WG8.2 International Working Conference. IFIP International Federation for Information Processing, vol. 208, pp. 397-411. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-34588-4_26

Sawyer S, Annabi H. Methods as theories: Evidence and arguments for theorizing on software development. In Trauth E, Howcroft D, Butler T, Butler T, DeGross J, editors, Social Inclusion: Societal and Organizational Implications for Information Systems: IFIP TC8 WG8.2 International Working Conference. 2006. p. 397-411. (IFIP International Federation for Information Processing). doi: 10.1007/0-387-34588-4_26

Sawyer, Steve ; Annabi, Hala. / Methods as theories : Evidence and arguments for theorizing on software development. Social Inclusion: Societal and Organizational Implications for Information Systems: IFIP TC8 WG8.2 International Working Conference. editor / Eileen Trauth ; Debra Howcroft ; Tom Butler ; Tom Butler ; Janice DeGross. 2006. pp. 397-411 (IFIP International Federation for Information Processing).

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Methods as theories: Evidence and arguments for theorizing on software development

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