Global software development practices are shaped by the challenges of time and 'distance', notions perceived to separate sites in a multi-site collaboration. Yet while sites may be fixed, the actors in global projects are mobile, so distance becomes a dynamic spatial dimension rather than a static concept. This empirical study applies grounded theory to unpack the nature of mobility within a three site globally distributed team setting. We develop a model for mapping the movements of team members in local and global spaces, and demonstrate its operation through static snapshots and dynamic patterns evolving over time. Through this study we highlight the complexity of 'mobility' as one facet of 'space' in globally distributed teams and illuminate its tight coupling with the accompanying dimensions of accessibility and context awareness.

翻译：全球软件开发做法是由时间和“距离”的挑战所决定的,认为在多地点协作中将不同地点分开的概念。虽然网站可以固定,但全球项目的行为者是移动的,因此距离就成为一个动态的空间层面,而不是静态的概念。这一经验性研究运用有根据的理论,将流动性的性质解开在全球分布的三个地点的团队布局。我们开发了一个模型,用于绘制当地和全球空间的团队成员的移动图,并通过静态的快照和随时间变化的动态模式展示其运作。我们通过这项研究强调“移动性”作为全球分布的团队中“空间”的一个方面的复杂性,并阐明其与无障碍和背景意识等相关层面的紧密结合。