Volume 117, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 166-197
Web-application development projects by online communities Which practices favour innovation? (Article)
a
Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Bolzano, Italy
b
Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Bolzano, Italy
b
Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Abstract
Purpose - The purpose
of this paper is to propose an in-depth analysis of online communities
of practice that support the innovative development of web applications.
The analysis is aimed at understanding the preeminent characteristics
of communities of practice that can favour the process of innovation
(conceptualisation and realization of a web application) and if these
characteristics differ in the diverse phases of a software development
project (requirement specification, design, implementation and
verification). Design/methodology/approach - The authors adopted a
multiple case study research design, selected 29 communities of practice
related to the development of web applications and classified them
recognizing the different practices that refer to the different phases
of the innovation process of web-applications software development.
Finally, the authors focussed on seven communities comparing five
important dimensions for each one. Findings - The results of the
empirical analysis show that the best practices are different,
considering the different phases of the project, and that these
practices can be strategies directed at members to attract them and
also, strategies directed at the community to permit collaboration.
Originality/value - The paper proposes an important and new insight into
the management of virtual communities of practice (VCoP). The authors
supposed that the ways to manage a VCoP could depend on project phases.
In particular, the management practices of community should differ
according to the different project phases, i.e. requirements
specification, design, implementation and verification of the software.
Literature in this sense presented only research focussed on the
different effects of virtualness on teams depending on the length of
team duration and on communication efforts. © Emerald Publishing
Limited.
of this paper is to propose an in-depth analysis of online communities
of practice that support the innovative development of web applications.
The analysis is aimed at understanding the preeminent characteristics
of communities of practice that can favour the process of innovation
(conceptualisation and realization of a web application) and if these
characteristics differ in the diverse phases of a software development
project (requirement specification, design, implementation and
verification). Design/methodology/approach - The authors adopted a
multiple case study research design, selected 29 communities of practice
related to the development of web applications and classified them
recognizing the different practices that refer to the different phases
of the innovation process of web-applications software development.
Finally, the authors focussed on seven communities comparing five
important dimensions for each one. Findings - The results of the
empirical analysis show that the best practices are different,
considering the different phases of the project, and that these
practices can be strategies directed at members to attract them and
also, strategies directed at the community to permit collaboration.
Originality/value - The paper proposes an important and new insight into
the management of virtual communities of practice (VCoP). The authors
supposed that the ways to manage a VCoP could depend on project phases.
In particular, the management practices of community should differ
according to the different project phases, i.e. requirements
specification, design, implementation and verification of the software.
Literature in this sense presented only research focussed on the
different effects of virtualness on teams depending on the length of
team duration and on communication efforts. © Emerald Publishing
Limited.
Author keywords
Innovation; Online communities of practice; Project management; Web-application projects
Indexed keywords
Engineering controlled terms: Application programs;
Innovation; Online systems; Project management; Social networking
(online); Specifications; Verification; Virtual reality
Innovation; Online systems; Project management; Social networking
(online); Specifications; Verification; Virtual reality
Design/methodology/approach; On-line communities;
Requirement specification; Requirements specifications; Software
development projects; Virtual communities of practices; WEB application;
Web application development
Requirement specification; Requirements specifications; Software
development projects; Virtual communities of practices; WEB application;
Web application development
Engineering main heading: Software design
ISSN: 02635577
CODEN: IMDSDSource Type: Journal
Original language: English
DOI: 10.1108/IMDS-10-2015-0440Document Type: Article
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
Scopus - Document details
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