Situational software engineering Complex Adaptive responses of software development teams

Abstract

The Complex Adaptive Situational Model (CASM) promotes understanding of establishing conditions which enable software engineering success. Influenced by complexity science, CASM explains aspects of the state of dynamic equilibrium that is achieved under constraining influence of management and production governance. Four states of dynamic equilibrium are defined: Crafted Quality (Agile), Controlled Quality (waterfall), Managed Costs (WetAgile) and Self-Directed Quality. A band of software engineering feasibility is also described and it is suggested that successful software engineering initiatives require teams to operate in that band. The journey across the band of feasibility is explained by introducing SEMAT, with Crafted Quality amounting to applying SEMAT Essence, and Controlled Quality being achieved by introducing additional practices which satisfy the more stringent governance requirements. An enterprise is then described as a collection of CAS's, thereby setting the scene for further research into the complexities of human-driven complex adaptive systems.