Background. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a widespread transition to hybrid work models (combinations of co-located and remote work) as software professionals' demanded more flexibility and improved work-life balance. However, hybrid work models reduce the spontaneous, informal face-to-face interactions that promote group maturation, cohesion, and resilience. Little is known about how software companies can successfully transition to a hybrid workforce or the factors that influence the resilience of hybrid software development teams. Goal. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between hybrid work and team resilience in the context of software development. Method. Constructivist Grounded Theory was used, based on interviews of 26 software professionals. This sample included professionals of different genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and levels of experience. Interviewees came from eight different companies, 22 different projects, and four different countries. Consistent with grounded theory methodology, data collection, and analysis were conducted iteratively, in waves, using theoretical sampling, constant comparison, and initial, focused, and theoretical coding. Results. Software Team Resilience is the ability of a group of software professionals to continue working together effectively under adverse conditions. Resilience depends on the group's maturity. The configuration of a hybrid team (who works where and when) can promote or hinder group maturity depending on the level of intra-group interaction it supports. Conclusion. This paper presents the first study on the resilience of hybrid software teams. Software teams need resilience to maintain their performance in the face of disruptions and crises. Software professionals strongly value hybrid work; therefore, team resilience is a key factor to be considered in the software industry.
翻译:背景。COVID-19疫情引发了向混合工作模式(远程办公与现场办公的结合)的广泛转变,软件从业者要求更高的灵活性和更优的工作生活平衡。然而,混合工作模式减少了促进团队成熟、凝聚力和韧性的自发性非正式面对面互动。关于软件公司如何成功过渡到混合劳动力模式,以及影响混合软件开发团队韧性的因素,目前了解甚少。目标。本研究旨在探讨软件开发背景下混合工作与团队韧性之间的关系。方法。采用建构主义扎根理论方法,基于对26名软件从业者的访谈。样本涵盖不同性别、种族、性取向和经验水平的从业者。受访者来自8家不同公司、22个不同项目及4个不同国家。遵循扎根理论方法论,数据收集与分析以迭代、分波次方式进行,采用理论抽样、持续比较法以及初始编码、聚焦编码和理论编码。结果。软件团队韧性是指软件从业者群体在不利条件下持续有效协作的能力。韧性取决于团队的成熟度。混合团队的配置(谁在何时何地工作)可根据其支持团队内部互动的水平,促进或阻碍团队成熟。结论。本文首次针对混合软件团队的韧性展开研究。软件团队需要韧性以在面临干扰和危机时维持绩效。软件从业者高度重视混合工作模式;因此,团队韧性是软件行业需考虑的关键因素。