Constructing Software the Ways Brain Accepts Information

Sharifah Lailee Syed Abdullah of Uitm Perlis studied the ways a human brain responds to its environments to produce software. Using agile methodology, she intended to train and develop skills in constructing a software akin a human brain accepting information (with a real commercial client).

She compared the Extreme Programming method (an agile methodology) with the Discovery Method (a design-led methodology) to evaluate the effect of the XP methodology. The variables were work related well being, work group cohesion, positive affectivity and quality of the software.

She also examined the effectiveness of the agile methodology by identifying the difficult practices in the XP methodology and the reasons for the difficulties. Cognitive theory indicates that for a new approach to be accepted easily, it must conform to the ways the brain accepts information, stimulates the mind, and thus motivates the developers.

The collection of data was assisted by Software Engineering Observatory at the University of Sheffield, which was run by the Verification and Testing (VT) research group, an XP team in IBM, Hursley, United Kingdom.

Sharifah’s study could complement technical-focused methodologies in software construction.

Sources: http://www.rmi.uitm.edu.my/rmi-research-news/246.html