A new doctoral dissertation by Frank Philip Seth at LUT proposes that human factors involved in the software development processes will determine the quality of the products developed. However, the results of the study also suggest that tools, infrastructure and other resources also have a positive impact on software quality, and the methods of development were found to bring little effect on software quality. According to the research the software quality is an information-intensive process whereby organizational structures, mode of operation, and information flow within the company variably affect software quality.
The results suggest that software development managers influence the productivity of developers and the quality of the software products. Several challenges of software testing that affect software quality are also brought to light. The findings of this research are expected to benefit the academic community and software practitioners by providing an insight into the issues pertaining to software quality construction undertakings.
Software quality has become an important research subject, not only in the Information and Communication Technology spheres, but also in other industries at large where software is applied. Software quality is not a happenstance; it is defined, planned and created into the software product throughout the Software Development Life Cycle.
The research objective of Seth's study is to investigate the roles of human and organizational factors that influence software quality construction. The study employs the Straussian grounded theory. The empirical data has been collected from 13 software companies, and the data includes 40 interviews.
MSc. F. P. Seth, will defend his doctoral dissertation in the field of Software Engineering at the Lappeenranta University of Technology on August 12 at noon, room 1382. His dissertation is titled "Empirical studies on software quality construction: Exploring human factors and organizational influences". Professor Mika Mäntylä of University of Oulu, Finland will act as opponent. Professor Kari Smolander of Lappeenranta University of Technology will act as custodian.
The dissertation has been published in the Acta Universitatis Lappeenrantaensis research series number 642 of the university. ISBN 978-952-265-805-0, ISBN 978-952-265-806-7 (PDF), ISSN-L 1456-4491, ISSN 1456-4491. The electronic version can be found from LUTPub-database http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-265-806-7. A printed version of the dissertation may be purchased from the Aalef bookstore, tel. +358 44 744 5511, or at kirjakauppa@aalef.fi or online from the LUT Shop: https://lutshop.lut.fi/.
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Information about the doctoral candidate:
Name: Frank Philip Seth
Year and place of birth: 21st September 1971, Kilimanjaro Tanzania.
Time and place of completing secondary education:
- 1991, Minja Technical Secondary School, Ugweno, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
- 1993, Iliboru High School, Arusha, Tanzania.
Other degrees, year of graduation and place:
- Bachelor of Science with Education, 2000, University of Dar es Salaam.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Scientific Computing, 2003, University of Dar Es Salaam.
- Masters of Science in Information Technology and Management, Koimbator India, 2008.
Most important places of employment, and naturally the present one:
- Dar es salaam University College of Education (DUCE), Constituent College of University of Dar es Salaam (2006 - present)
- Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) (2005-2006)
Contact information:
Frank Philip Seth, p. +255 713 275 301 tai f.p.seth@gmail.com