Social network multiplexity in software development: Investigating the implications for knowledge sharing, problem-solving and performance
Ajimati, Matthew Oladeji
Ajimati, Matthew Oladeji
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Publication Date
2022-01-18
Type
Thesis
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Abstract
Social structures matter to software development. This is because software developers need to collaborate to share knowledge and solve problems together to drive software development success. Nonetheless, studies investigating how such interaction affects performance is limited to a dominant perspective of technical advice network (one-dimensional relations) and less of business advice network, and how they interact in online and offline communication combined to determine the performance of software developers. A few scholars in information systems (IS) and software engineering (SE) fields have called for the application of a multiplex network perspective (multidimensional relations) as a theoretical lens to investigate the structure of software developers. This thesis applies a multiplex network perspective to explain individuals’ embeddedness in social networks and what it means for performance-related outcomes based on three (interrelated) research studies. The study presented in chapter 2 (article 1 related) focuses on understanding, conceptualising, and applying the concept of multiplexity to studying social networks in software development settings. A systematic review of social network analysis (SNA) within the IS, SE and management science domain was conducted. The findings revealed an isolated perspective of multiplexity based on a resource access stance (business/technical knowledge), communication (offline/online networks) and relationship (formal/informal relations) dimensions. The lack of an integrated perspective limits the ability to generate sufficient insights concerning the dynamics of the social network of developers, particularly how different interpersonal network configurations (ties) and their interrelations impact performance differently. This is often needed to make sense of inherent variations in network behaviours undergirding an individual’s ability to generate and keep a steady flow of diverse resources. The study presented in chapter 3 (article 2 related) focuses on the multiplex network structures of software developers by examining how their brokerage roles (gatekeeping, consulting etc.) and knowledge sharing interactions (business/technical related) in the communication networks (offline/online) contribute to their software development effort. Prior studies have provided limited understanding about how the role and type of knowledge flowing through offline and online communication combined shape performance. Because studying diverse network structures and network knowledge types can generate understanding about an individual’s leverage in problem-solving activities. This study thereby revealed the influence of different network behaviours and knowledge interactions in shaping performance potentials. The study presented in chapter 4 (article 3 related) focuses on understanding the embedding of software developers in multiplex advice structures and how their brokerage in both business and technical advice networks provides access to business and technical knowledge resources and translate to an individual’s problem-solving competence. Research evidence in this area offers a limited understanding of the network antecedents of problem-solving competence. This study revealed the varying level of significance of brokerage and contact quality within and between the structure of advice networks for knowledge resources and the problem-solving competence of software developers. Overall, this thesis makes a number of contributions by integrating different dimensions of multiplexity, which have been observed in isolation in prior streams of literature and different fields, to generate sufficient insights about software development networks. In terms of contributions to theory, this research is one of the first to provide an integrated framework and its application to an individual’s coordination of resources and task performance in software development. It also makes this study one of the first to clearly reveal the optimal and sub-optimal use of offline and online networks based on different knowledge interactions. This research is also one of the first to directly link business and technical advice connectedness via brokerage (as antecedents) to problem-solving competence (as outcome) of software developers. As per contributions to practice, the insights generated can help organisational managers and leaders to promote knowledge networking, cultivate strategic brokers, promote expert interventions, and optimise knowledge resourcefulness for greater problem-solving competence of software developers. Building upon network theory or social network theory such as structural hole theory, the application of multiplexity to software development generate insights into the knowledge sharing processes and problem-solving potentials of software developers. In doing so, it provides a complete picture of the variance in brokerage action, network structure, and network knowledge influencing software development performance. In other words, it reveals the combined effect of the role of individuals, structures and knowledge types plays in deriving a better software development effort. This thesis considers these findings and their implications for future studies.
Publisher
NUI Galway