Software Engineering at Scale – Theme (SE@Scale)

Under the Software Engineering at Scale (SE@Scale) theme, we collect and provide empirical evidence to rigorously understand what combinations of methodologies, behaviours, methods, techniques, and tools are effective in different contexts to improve the collaborative development of software and the lives of those involved. We also work closely with organisations to ensure that the results of our research are relevant to practicing software professionals.

SE@Scale carries out research into large-scale ways of working utilised by software professionals, involving collaborative computing, software processes and practices, and human-centric software engineering, investigating how these aspects relate to the conception, design, development and maintenance of robust, ethical and valuable software systems.

Research covers the following areas

• Practice contexts – influences on structures, process and practice choices over software lifetimes.
• Scale and software – influences on roles, methods, techniques, tools comprising ways of working (WoW) in collaborative software engineering/development over the full software lifecycle from ideation to retirement.
• Team & collaborative process – groupwork and practices, distributed/global/virtual/hybrid teams.
• Information ecosystems – distinct types, and cross organizational, requiring distinct approaches and different skills.
• Human-centric computing, understanding, and improving the work life of software professionals and connecting design to the reality of the user – involving authentic and real users in design and testing.
• Emerging technologies and impacts on ways of more effectively developing software, balancing automation technology and human values, as well as value produced.
• Software-intensive product development and software portfolio, program, and project management.
• Behavioural Software Engineering (BSE) defined as “the study of cognitive, behavioural and social aspects of software engineering performed by individuals, groups or organizations” (Lenberg et al., 2015).
• Secure software engineering lifecycles and ways of working.

Research networks

• CSIRO, Australia – Prof Didar Zowghi
• Lero, University of Limerick, Ireland – Dr Sarah Beecham and Dr John Noll
• SEGAL University of Victoria, Canada – Professor Daniela Damian
• University of Auckland – Dr. Kelly Blincoe

Affiliated researchers

• Harley Ogier, Lincoln University, New Zealand
• Stephen MacDonell, Victoria University, New Zealand

Industry partners

• Datacom
• Flexera software
• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare