Exploring software maintenance process characteristics by using inductive thematic analysis
Željko Stojanov, Jelena Stojanov · 2016
Software maintenance is the most costly part of software life cycle, deserving more attention of research community. Systematic consideration of software maintenance problems and challenges becomes even more important in small software companies that face several difficulties due to their constraints related to staff, resources and funding. This paper outlines a method for identifying and systematizing knowledge about practice in small organizations. The method is implemented in a micro software company for identifying characteristics of software maintenance processes. Thematic analysis enables identification and systematization of knowledge in a framework that is grounded in the empirical data collected in the company. This knowledge about the maintenance processes is available to the company staff for usage in everyday activities. The method can be easily tailored to other small organizations.