A tool supporting root cause analysis for synchronous retrospectives in distributed software teams |
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| Affiliation: | 1. University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Fruskogorska 11, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;2. CreativiTIC INNOVA S.L Centro Tecnológico de La Rioja, Avenida de Zaragoza 21, 26006 Logroño, Spain;3. Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements (PIAP), Al. Jerozolimskie 202, 02-486 Warsaw, Poland;4. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel;1. University of Oviedo, Computer Science Department, Calvo Sotelo s/n, 33007 Oviedo, Spain;2. University of South Florida, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, ENB118 Tampa, FL, USA;1. Technology Center of Software Engineering, Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;2. Graduate University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;3. State Key Laboratory of Computer Science, Beijing 100190, China;1. Department of Computer Science, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia;2. School of Engineering and Information Technology, UNSW Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia;1. Lina - Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208 44322, Nantes Cedex 03, France;2. Departamento de Informática, Rua Cel. Francisco H. dos Santos, 100 Centro Politécnico, Jardim das Américas - Curitiba - PR, Caixa Postal: 19081, CEP 81531-980, Brazil;3. Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication, 6, rue Coudenhove-Kalergi, L-1359 Luxembourg-Kirchberg, Luxembourg;4. IRISA Rennes, Campus universitaire de Beaulieu, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc - CS 74205, 35042 RENNES Cedex, France |
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| Abstract: | ContextRoot cause analysis (RCA) is a useful practice for software project retrospectives, and is typically carried out in synchronous collocated face-to-face meetings. Conducting RCA with distributed teams is challenging, as face-to-face meetings are infeasible. Lack of adequate real-time tool support exacerbates this problem. Furthermore, there are no empirical studies on using RCA in synchronous retrospectives of geographically distributed teams.ObjectiveThis paper presents a real-time cloud-based software tool (ARCA-tool) we developed to support RCA in distributed teams and its initial empirical evaluation. The feasibility of using RCA with distributed teams is also evaluated.MethodWe compared our tool with 35 existing RCA software tools. We conducted field studies of four distributed agile software teams at two international software product companies. The teams conducted RCA collaboratively in synchronous retrospective meetings by using the tool we developed. We collected the data using observations, interviews and questionnaires.ResultsComparison revealed that none of the existing 35 tools matched all the features of our ARCA-tool. The team members found ARCA-tool to be an essential part of their distributed retrospectives. They considered the software as efficient and very easy to learn and use. Additionally, the team members perceived RCA to be a vital part of the retrospectives. In contrast to the prior retrospective practices of the teams, the introduced RCA method was evaluated as efficient and easy to use.ConclusionRCA is a useful practice in synchronous distributed retrospectives. However, it requires software tool support for enabling real-time view and co-creation of a cause-effect diagram. ARCA-tool supports synchronous RCA, and includes support for logging problems and causes, problem prioritization, cause-effect diagramming, and logging of process improvement proposals. It enables conducting RCA in distributed retrospectives. |
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| Keywords: | ARCA-tool Root cause analysis Distributed retrospective Global software engineering |
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