SLIDE 1
Software Architecture Lab.
Naomi Unkelos-Shpigel Irit Hadar
Software Architecture Lab. Department of Information Systems University of Haifa
Software Architecture Lab.
2
Software Architecture Lab. Department of Information Systems - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Software Architecture Lab. Department of Information Systems - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Mind the Gap and Find Common Ground: Empirical Research in Multiple Firms Naomi Unkelos-Shpigel Irit Hadar Software Architecture Lab. Department of Information Systems University of Haifa Software Architecture Lab. Agenda
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
Software Architecture Lab.
3
Academia-industry collaboration
http://shirahime.ch
SLIDE 4
Software Architecture Lab.
4
In fact…
(Grossman et al. ,2001)
The funding and resource allocation for academic
research in industry has been minimal
In firms where academic research is nascent, the
concern is "to take the research and training needs of the industries more seriously"
SLIDE 5
Software Architecture Lab.
5
The empirical study
Preliminary questionnaires
In-depth In-depth interviews In-depth In-depth interviews
Case Study [Yin,1984] A global IT firm Interpretive Study (Walsham,1995) 7 firms
SLIDE 6
Software Architecture Lab.
6
Research field and population
Interviews Questionnaires
7 global companies - 5 hi-tech 1 defense systems 1 shipping industry A global IT management software provider Research field 9 service architects, all with at least 5 years of experience 25 leading service architects Research population In-depth semi- structured interviews Open questions Data collection Open coding
(Strauss & Corbin, 1990)
Open coding
(Strauss & Corbin, 1990)
Data analysis
SLIDE 7
Software Architecture Lab.
7
Advantages
Comparing different work procedures Finding solution for one firm in
another firm`s best practices
The ability to decontextualize and
recontextualize
"Same old Bess in a new dress"
SLIDE 8
Software Architecture Lab.
8
Challenges
Ethics Interviewer`s knowledge and expertise "On the record"/"off the record" data
SLIDE 9
Software Architecture Lab.
9
Discussion
Triangulation Limitations
The additional cases were in a single country Restricted access to written material One/two interviews in each firm
SLIDE 10
Software Architecture Lab.
10
Conclusions
Interpretive study, especially in multiple firms, is an
effective way to collect rich data from the field
Several strategies (e.g., interviewer expertise,
knowledge sharing) were found helpful in promoting collaboration
Ethical concerns should be handled carefully, as well
as their perception by the industrial collaborators
SLIDE 11
Software Architecture Lab.
11