ABSTRACT
This paper reports on an empirical study that explores the impact of individual and group factors on programmer productivity. Programmer productivity is modeled as a function of Individual Characteristics, Group Cohesiveness and Leader Behavior. Individual Characteristics are measured in terms of years of college education, training, and months of experience in a language at the site. Group Cohesiveness is measured in terms of person to group attraction, person to person attraction, and person to leader attraction. Leader Behavior is measured in terms of production emphasis which is the application of pressure for productive output. Programmer productivity is measured in terms of lines of code (LOC), executable lines of code (ELOC), and Halstead's effort. This study found that person to group attraction, person to person attraction, person to leader attraction, years of college education, training, and programmer's experience at the organization do not correlate to productivity measures in a statistically significant way. The implications of these finding are explored.
- 1.Arthur, LJ. Measuring Programmer Productivi~ and Software Oualitv. John Wiley & Sons, New York, (1985). Google ScholarDigital Library
- 2.Benbasat, L & Vessey, I. "Programmer and analyst time/cost estimation', MIS Quarterly (June 1980), 31-63.Google Scholar
- 3.Berkowitz, L. "Group standards, cohesiveness and productivity', Human Relations 7, 4, (1954), 509-519.Google ScholarCross Ref
- 4.Chrysler, E. "Some basic determinants of computer programming productivity', Communications of the ACM 21, 6 (June,1978), 472-483. Google ScholarDigital Library
- 5.Druffel, L.F_., Rodwine, S.T. Jr., & Riddle, W.E. "The STARS Program: Overview and Rationale', IEEE Computer 16, 11 (Nov. 1983), 21-29.Google Scholar
- 6.Fung, K.C., Debnath, N.C. & Zweben, S.H. "A Software Science Analyzer for COBOL', Tech. Rep. No.OSU-CISRC-TR-83-2, Ohio State University, Computer and Information Science Research Center, Columbus. (1983).Google Scholar
- 7.Gowda, R. O. "Impact of Group Cohesiveness on Programmer Productivity', Ph.D. Dissertation, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, 1988.Google Scholar
- 8.Halstead, M.H. Elements. of Software Science, Elsevier North Holland, New York. (1977). Google ScholarDigital Library
- 9.lsserlis, J.A. "The construction and validation of a scale of measure group cohesiveness', Dissertation Abstracts international, 39, {10-B} 5139, University Microfilms No. 7908995. (1978).Google Scholar
- 10.Jewell, L.N. & Reitz, J.H. Group Effectiveness in Or~nization, Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview, lllinois (1981).Google Scholar
- 11.Lott, AJ., &Lott, B.E. "Group cohesiveness as interpersonal attraction: A review of relationships with antecedent and consequent variables', Psychological Bulletin,64,4 (1965), 259-309.Google ScholarCross Ref
- 12.Piper, W.E., Marrache, M., Lacroix, R., Richardson, A.M., & Jones, B.D. "Cohesion as a basic bond in groups', Human Relations 36, 2 (1983). 93-108.Google ScholarCross Ref
- 13.Seashore, S.E. "Group Cohesiveness in the Industrial Work Group', Survey Research Center Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. (1954).Google Scholar
- 14.Shen, V.Y., & Dunsmore, H.E. "Analyzing Cobol Programs via Software Science', Tech. Rep. No. CSD-TR-348. Purdue University, Department of Computer Sciences, West Lafayette. (1981).Google Scholar
- 15.Software Technology for Adaptable Reliable Systems, STARS. Department of Defense. (March, 30, 1983).Google Scholar
- 16.Stogdill, R.M. Manual for the .Lea d.er Ikhavior Description Questionnaire-Form XII Tech.Rep. Ohio State University, Bureau of Business Research, Columbus. (1963).Google Scholar
- 17.Stogdill,R.M. "Group productivity, drive and cohesiveness', Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 8, (August, 1972), 26-42.Google ScholarCross Ref
Index Terms
- An exploration of the impact of individual and group factors on programmer productivity
Recommendations
Individual, social and situational determinants of telecommuter productivity
Productivity of remote workers is of critical concern to organizations and managers contemplating telecommuting arrangements. Here we suggest a general theoretical framework for understanding telecommuter productivity, and then report on a two-phased ...
A Study on the Impact of Employee Retention Policies on Organisation Productivity in Private Sector
During the last decade, employee retention has become a most critical issue for all private sector organisations as a result of the shortage of skilled labor, economic growth and employee turnover. Retention of employees is an important function of the ...
Comments