Essay on Knowledge Management in Software Engineering

Bjornson and Dingsoyr, (2008, 1057) conducted a systematic review of some selected empirical research of knowledge management program in software engineering. The findings of the literature established that there is a need for software projects to focus on both the explicit and precise knowledge.

Methodology

As a secondary research, the study selected of seven hundred and sixty-two articles reviewed 62 of these items. The researchers used quality assessment and classification process for extracting data from the papers. A synthesis was done to come up with final findings (Bjornson & Dingsoyr 2008).

Finding

While tacit helps in creating the required change, the explicit knowledge is critical in establishing institutional memory in the organization. From these propositions, one can deduce that the quality of communication within and between the teams participating affects the effectiveness of a software project (Bjornson & Dingsoyr 2008).

Limitation

The threat was likely to be encountered during selection of the literature to the included, classification of the studies correctly according knowledge management framework. This limitation was brought by the fact that only one researcher read the collected literature and discarded others (Bjornson & Dingsoyr 2008).

Summary

There is a need for software projects to focus on both the explicit and precise knowledge to enhance quality communication in the teams.

Social Media and Knowledge Sharing

The Impact of Social Media on Software Engineering Practices and ToolsStorey, et al., (2010) on their part was concerned with evaluating the role of social media as a tool for knowledge sharing in software projects.

Methodology The research reviewed a number of social media tools that support individual teams engaged in software development. The researcher conducted surveys and systematic literature reviews on the subject matter (Anne Storey et al. 2010).

Result

The study findings established that social media contributes positively to software development teams to coordinate and manage better software engineering projects. Therefore using social media tools and features, software engineers can enhance their practices at the team, community, and project levels (Anne Storey et al. 2010).

LimitationThe study cannot be replicated to contribute to a body of knowledge. The social media teams were not representative enough to provide reliable information. They are therefore not valid in collection and interpretation of research data (Anne Storey et al. 2010).

Summary

Social media is a tool that enhances informal communication among team members. Social media therefore contributes positively to software development teams to coordinate and manage better software engineering projects

Knowledge Sharing, Innovation and Firm PerformanceWang and Wang (2012) investigated the relationship between sharing of knowledge, performance, and innovation. Knowledge is an important resource and is crucial for organizations survival in the competitive environment.

Methodology

The research review is used to develop a research model that knowledge sharing is proposed to influence organizations performance (Wang & Wang 2012).

The researchers conducted a survey in china to test the model. The actual data was done through questionnaires. This involved modification the scales to be used in the context of china. They measured explicit knowledge by six items. A sample of 89 high technology firms in Jiangsu was examined. The CEO was mailed a letter and questionnaire (Wang & Wang 2012).

Result

The result of the confirmatory factors analysis so that the sharing of explicit knowledge on the innovation speed in greater than performance operation. This shows that technology and innovation contributes to sharing of knowledge by organization which has a direct impact on operational performance. Sharing of knowledge contributes to competitive advantage in market (Wang & Wang 2012).

Limitations

There is a possibility of common variance method may have been caused by self report data. Secondly, the cross section of data did not allow use of longitudinal study to establish the conceptual framework of the paper. In addition, although empirical model was supported by data, only six constructs were incorporated. There is need for more consequent constructs and antecedent. (Wang & Wang 2012)

Summary

Knowledge is an important resource and is crucial for organizations survival in the competitive environment. As a result, technology can be optimized to enable sharing of explicit knowledge.

Knowledge Sharing Barriers

The study by Paulin and Kaj (2012), presented a discussion of three terms commonly used in knowledge management discussions. This included, knowledge sharing, knowledge transfer and knowledge barrier. The paper aim was to contribute to the body of knowledge by establishing a demarcation between the terms.(PAULIN 2012)

Methodology

The study involves reviewing various literatures on knowledge management with the aim of developing a synthesis of the three terms. A classification of authors definition and use of the terms were analyzed and criticized. The research is structured in a way to illustrate how three terms are used interchangeably and key similarities and differences are shown (PAULIN 2012).

Result

The misunderstanding of the terms has contributed to knowledge confusion in the body of knowledge management. There is therefore need to establish boundaries between the terms for effectiveness (PAULIN 2012).

Limitation

The study does not seem to have a clear methodological structure to guide the study. In addition, the research was a discussion of the terms at the center of knowledge management with the aim of developing clarity of the terms. There is potential risk of validity since the terms are used by the authors without distinctions (PAULIN 2012).

Summary

The research that involved analysis of how various literature use knowledge sharing, knowledge transfer and knowledge barrier shows that misunderstanding of the terms has caused confusion in the knowledge management practices.

Drivers of Knowledge Sharing in Software Development Teams

Ghobadi (2015) conducted a study to provide a systematic synthesis of the available literature on knowledge sharing drivers within software teams. The literature reviewed was published between 1993 and 2011 based on a classification framework.

Research method

The study employed three methodological phases based on the systematic mapping method. As a result, literatures were categorized so that the data can be analyzed in a structured framework. The methodology of the study was based on literature reviews. The process involved planning of the research, conducting the study and reporting (Ghobadi 2015).

Results

The researchers identified how the various studies have been interchanging the concepts of knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer. It is important to have the correct definition of the term for effective knowledge management (Ghobadi 2015).

Limitation

The study findings are limited to the literatures that were being analyzed. The study encountered the problem of analyzing data collected based on different approaches. There was a problem with validity of data since researchers had no way of verifying the secondary research it was using. Bias was also brought by the researchers who were involved in the collection of articles. There was no clear framework for data collection (Ghobadi 2015).

Summary

One of the elements causing confusion in knowledge management is that various groups use terms like knowledge sharing and knowledge management interchangeably. It is important to have the correct definition of the term for effective knowledge management

Knowledge Sharing

Smite et al. (2017) analyzed the aspect of software development teams knowledge related to knowledge networking in global software development projects.

Methodology

Authors implemented a multi-case study on globally distributed software development teams of two organization, also surveys, and individual interviews have been carried out for further analysis.

Approach

Focus groups of ten software development teams working for two global organizations, Ericsson and ABB, have been set up in three different countries, Sweden, China, and India, where 61employee have been surveyed to visualize knowledge networks among them.

Using focus groups' observations, survey's data, and the information obtained from interviewing employees of different roles, authors identified and analyzed social network characteristics and presented different networking patterns.

Results and Findings

The study claims that companies' social capitals and employees networking play a significant role in resolving complicated, previously unknown, and interconnected problems. Authors have also introduced some mechanisms to support social networking among employees, such as communities of practice and a reliable communication infrastructure.

Limitations

The case study has been conducted on two companies only, and only 61 responses have been collected by the implemented survey. Moreover, discovered social network patterns need to be evaluated to assess their effectiveness in other organization.

Summary

The study involved analyzing aspects of software development teams knowledge related to knowledge networking in global software development projects. The multiple case studies showed that companies social capital contribute in solving complicated problems.