Findings on AGSD Architectural Knowledge Sharing

Abstract

Agile Software Development (ASD) is increasingly common in globally distributed teams -- it is known as AGSD. However, while in ASD face-to-face interactions are preferred over document-based communications, in global software development document-based communication is preferred. These differences affect Architectural Knowledge Management. AGSD workers preferably convey architectural knowledge (AK) by frequent interactions across sites through unstructured and textual electronic media (UTEM) (chats, emails, forums, etc.), i.e., AK is articulated in these media. UTEM leave unstructured logs of shared AK. We present an empirical study to understand AK articulation through UTEM in AGSD teams. Our results are an ontological model about AK articulation through UTEM in AGSD teams, and 11 categories of UTEM interactions across sites, where requirements and coding themes were prominent. Also, we found that AK in UTEM is perceived as important, regardless of the interaction frequency.