Task allocation and coordination process in distributed agile software development: an ontology based approach

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Information Systems

Background:

• Distributed Agile Software Development (DASD) is increasingly popular due to cost, market, and expertise factors.
• DASD presents significant coordination and communication challenges, particularly in task allocation.
• Existing solutions often lack comprehensive models for DASD-specific task allocation factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel ontology, OntoDASD, for addressing task allocation and coordination issues in DASD.
• To incorporate critical factors and dependencies influencing task allocation within distributed agile environments.
• To enhance knowledge representation and sharing for improved decision-making in DASD.

Main Methods:

• An in-depth literature review was conducted to identify existing challenges and solutions.
• A survey was administered to industry professionals to gather practical insights.
• An ontology, OntoDASD, was developed based on the literature review and survey data.

Main Results:

• OntoDASD effectively represents knowledge related to task allocation and coordination in DASD.
• The ontology facilitates improved team coordination through structured knowledge sharing.
• OntoDASD was validated by industry professionals, confirming its practical applicability.

Conclusions:

• OntoDASD provides a robust framework for optimizing task allocation in distributed agile settings.
• The ontology enhances communication and knowledge management for distributed software development teams.
• Implementing OntoDASD can lead to more efficient and effective DASD practices.