An Exploratory Study of the Development Practices Used by Software Entrepreneurs in Namibia

Abstract

Software entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly important in Namibia, due to its recognized potential to facilitate economic development. The Namibian government policies promote the integration of ICTs in all sectors, anticipating that it can play a pivotal role in transitioning the country to a knowledge-based economy. Despite the above, however, there is a limited number of software startups in Namibia, and offshore outsourcing of software development services remain common in the public sector. The limited empirical evidence on software development activities in Namibia further exacerbates the situation, and does not give prominence to the emerging ecosystem of software entrepreneurs and technology startups in the country. This chapter presents the results of an exploratory study of software development activities in Namibia. A literature review to identify software engineering practices currently used by startups worldwide is conducted. A questionnaire was then developed and distributed to selected Namibian entrepreneurs, using the snowball sampling technique. Data from the questionnaire were analyzed using basic statistical techniques. The findings reveal that Namibian software developers prefer using iterative and incremental software process models and embrace agility in their practices. It also revealed the need for startups to focus on compliance with software engineering standards. The research also highlights the need for the government to play an active role in accelerating and shaping the growth of software development, to help build resilient software startup communities and achieve sustainable ICT entrepreneurship in the country.