Modern code review knowledge sharing model to reduce software engineering waiting waste

Abstract

Reducing waiting waste in software engineering activities such as software requirement gathering, software modelling and construction, software inspections, and modern code review is challenging. Waiting waste creates a blocking state for other tasks, delays project, decreases developers’ productivity, and increases mental distress. One of the major causes of waiting waste generation is a lack of knowledge sharing in Modern Code Review (MCR). Although past studies have focused on knowledge sharing in other software engineering activities, little evidence is available in the context of MCR, resulting in the lack of knowledge sharing guidelines in MCR to guide software engineers to reduce software engineering waiting waste. This study developed a modern code review knowledge sharing model to reduce software engineering waiting waste. To develop the model, the knowledge sharing factors in MCR and the ranked most influential knowledge sharing factors for MCR activities were identified. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the knowledge sharing factors, subfactors, and categories in MCR. An electronic knowledge sharing MCR guideline was also developed based on the MCR knowledge sharing model. Four software engineering experts validated the identified list of knowledge sharing factors, sub-factors, and categories in MCR for their naming conventions, grouping, and sub-grouping. A Delphi survey involving ten experts was employed to identify the most influential knowledge sharing factors for MCR activities. The results from the Delphi survey were used to develop the MCR knowledge sharing model. The relationships between the categories of the MCR knowledge sharing model - Individual, Team, Facility Conditions, Artefact, and Social - were explored using regression analysis. An electronic reference guide of the MCR knowledge sharing model was developed using ASP.NET and SQL server based on the developed MCR knowledge sharing model. The experiment was conducted with the support of the electronic reference guide of the MCR knowledge sharing model to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed model to reduce software engineering waiting waste. In sum, this study has developed MCR knowledge sharing mode, which constitutes of evaluated list of knowledge sharing factors in MCR, and the most influential knowledge sharing factors for MCR activities to reduce software engineering waiting waste.