Collaborative learning behaviour in software development teams

Software development is a knowledge intensive activity. Commercial production of software is carried out in teams where the collective knowledge of team members is harnessed to create a solution for a business problem. The abstract nature of software makes it imperative for team members to continuously share tacit knowledge and engage in collaborative learning. Based on analysis of data collected from 588 software developers working in 83 teams, this research identifies the factors that influence collaborative learning in software development teams and the impact of such learning on team effectiveness. The results indicate that teams that are managed by following open and transparent processes and inculcating relationships based on trust have high degree of collaborative learning among team members. However, collaborative learning behaviour does not benefit all kinds of teams. While it benefits teams involved in software product development, its impact on teams involved in support and maintenance of software solutions is insignificant. The implications of these findings for organizational knowledge management initiatives are discussed.