A Socio-Technical Grounded Theory on the Effect of Cognitive Dysfunctions in the Performance of Software Developers with ADHD and Autism

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gama, Kiev, Liebel, Grischa, Goulão, Miguel, Lacerda, Aline, Lacerda, Cristiana
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Gama, Kiev
Liebel, Grischa
Goulão, Miguel
Lacerda, Aline
Lacerda, Cristiana
author_facet Gama, Kiev
Liebel, Grischa
Goulão, Miguel
Lacerda, Aline
Lacerda, Cristiana
contents The concept of neurodiversity, encompassing conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and dyspraxia, challenges traditional views of these neurodevelopmental variations as disorders and instead frames them as natural cognitive differences that contribute to unique ways of thinking and problem-solving. Within the software development industry, known for its emphasis on innovation, there is growing recognition of the value neurodivergent individuals bring to technical teams. Despite this, research on the contributions of neurodivergent individuals in Software Engineering (SE) remains limited. This interdisciplinary Socio-Technical Grounded Theory study addresses this gap by exploring the experiences of neurodivergent software engineers with ASD and ADHD, examining the cognitive and emotional challenges they face in software teams. Based on interviews and a survey with 25 neurodivergent and 5 neurotypical individuals, our theory describes how neurodivergent cognitive dysfunctions affect SE performance, and how the individuals' individual journey and various accommodations can regulate this effect. We conclude our paper with a list of inclusive Agile practices, allowing organizations to better support neurodivergent employees and fully leverage their capabilities.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_13950
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Socio-Technical Grounded Theory on the Effect of Cognitive Dysfunctions in the Performance of Software Developers with ADHD and Autism
Gama, Kiev
Liebel, Grischa
Goulão, Miguel
Lacerda, Aline
Lacerda, Cristiana
Software Engineering
The concept of neurodiversity, encompassing conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and dyspraxia, challenges traditional views of these neurodevelopmental variations as disorders and instead frames them as natural cognitive differences that contribute to unique ways of thinking and problem-solving. Within the software development industry, known for its emphasis on innovation, there is growing recognition of the value neurodivergent individuals bring to technical teams. Despite this, research on the contributions of neurodivergent individuals in Software Engineering (SE) remains limited. This interdisciplinary Socio-Technical Grounded Theory study addresses this gap by exploring the experiences of neurodivergent software engineers with ASD and ADHD, examining the cognitive and emotional challenges they face in software teams. Based on interviews and a survey with 25 neurodivergent and 5 neurotypical individuals, our theory describes how neurodivergent cognitive dysfunctions affect SE performance, and how the individuals' individual journey and various accommodations can regulate this effect. We conclude our paper with a list of inclusive Agile practices, allowing organizations to better support neurodivergent employees and fully leverage their capabilities.
title A Socio-Technical Grounded Theory on the Effect of Cognitive Dysfunctions in the Performance of Software Developers with ADHD and Autism
topic Software Engineering
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.13950