Using a configuration management tool to coordinate software development

Abstract

I describe a naturalistic study of one organization's use of a configuration management tool to coordinate the development of a software product. In this organization, the developers use the tool routinely to reduce the complexities of coordinating their development efforts. I examine how the tool provides mechanisms of interaction that let the developers work with each other. I identify four aspects of these mechanisms: difficulties of representing work, the multiple levels that they operate at, the possibilities for coordination they provide, and their role in supporting a model of work.