Title: Applying a multiplex network perspective to understand performance in software development

Authors: Matthew O. Ajimati; Rick Aalbers; Eoin Whelan; Hans van Kranenburg; Lorraine Morgan

Addresses: Business Information Systems, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Institute for Management Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 141 6525AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands ' Institute for Management Research, Centre for Organization Restructuring, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 141 6525AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands ' Business Information Systems, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland ' Institute for Management Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 141 6525AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands ' Business Information Systems, Lero – Irish Software Engineering Centre, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

Abstract: A number of studies have applied social network analysis (SNA) to show that the patterns of social interaction between software developers explain important organisational outcomes. However, these insights are based on a single network relation (i.e., uniplex social ties) between software developers and do not consider the multiple network relations (i.e., multiplex social ties) that truly exist among project members. This study reassesses the understanding of software developer networks and what it means for performance in software development settings. A systematic review of SNA studies between 1990 and 2020 across six digital libraries within the IS and management science domain was conducted. The central contributions of this paper are an in-depth overview of SNA studies to date and the establishment of a research agenda to advance our knowledge of the concept of multiplexity on how a multiplex perspective can contribute to a software developer's coordination of tasks and performance advantages.

Keywords: multiplexity; software development; communication network; social network analysis; SNA; software developer; performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2024.142583

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2024 Vol.47 No.3, pp.324 - 373

Received: 29 Sep 2020
Accepted: 14 May 2021
Published online: 11 Nov 2024 *

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