Case study research is a popular method in software engineering for exploring complex phenomena, understanding the contextual factors that influence software development, and evaluating the effectiveness of software engineering practices. Case studies involve the in-depth investigation of a specific instance of software development, often focusing on a particular project, organization, or technology. This article provides guidelines for conducting case study research in software engineering, as well as examples of successful case studies in the field.
Guidelines for Case Study Research in Software Engineering:
Define the research question: The first step in conducting a case study is to define the research question or questions that will guide the investigation. The research question should be focused and specific, and should address a relevant and important issue in software engineering.
Select the case(s): The next step is to select the case or cases that will be studied. The selection should be based on the relevance of the case to the research question, the availability of data, and the potential for generalization to other contexts.
Collect data: The data collection process should be designed to address the research question and should involve multiple sources of data, including interviews, observations, documents, and artifacts. The data should be collected in a systematic and rigorous manner, and should be analyzed using appropriate qualitative or quantitative methods.
Analyze data: The data analysis process should involve the identification of patterns and themes in the data, as well as the development of explanations and theories to explain the findings. The analysis should be guided by the research question and should be conducted in a transparent and replicable manner.
Validate findings: The final step in conducting a case study is to validate the findings by comparing them to existing literature, seeking feedback from stakeholders, and testing the generalizability of the findings to other contexts.
Examples of Case Studies in Software Engineering:
The Agile Transformation at Spotify: This case study explores the implementation of agile software development practices at Spotify, a popular music streaming service. The study analyzes the contextual factors that influenced the adoption of agile, the challenges faced during the transformation, and the outcomes of the transformation in terms of software quality and delivery speed.
The Eclipse Development Process: This case study examines the development process of Eclipse, an open-source integrated development environment (IDE) for software development. The study analyzes the roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders involved in the development process, the tools and technologies used, and the strategies for managing the complexity of the software.
The Mozilla Firefox Project: This case study investigates the development of Mozilla Firefox, a popular web browser. The study focuses on the role of community participation in the development process, the strategies for managing the development process across different geographies and time zones, and the impact of the development process on the quality and usability of the software.
The Adoption of DevOps at a Financial Services Company: This case study explores the adoption of DevOps, a software development culture and practice that emphasizes collaboration and automation, at a financial services company. The study analyzes the contextual factors that influenced the adoption of DevOps, the challenges faced during the adoption process, and the outcomes of the adoption in terms of software quality, delivery speed, and customer satisfaction.
The Development of the Android Mobile Operating System: This case study examines the development of the Android mobile operating system, which is used by billions of devices worldwide. The study analyzes the organizational structure and processes of the Android development team, the technical architecture of the operating system, and the strategies for managing the complexity and diversity of the Android ecosystem.
Conclusion:
Case study research is a powerful method for exploring complex phenomena in software engineering, providing rich and detailed insights into the contextual factors that influence software development and the effectiveness of software engineering practices. By following the guidelines for conducting case study research and learning from successful case studies in the field, software engineering researchers can make valuable contributions to the theory and practice of software engineering.