Forming Theories of Practices for Software Engineering

The paper outlines a model for theorizing about development practices, especially taking into account the intended rationale for, actual realization of, and resulting impacts from using particular practices in varying contexts. This includes discussing of two different modes of thinking through which we can approach software development practices: technical rationality vs. reflection-in-action. By framing development practices taking place in software organizations as "organizational practices", the paper also sketches previous practice research in organizations, which has profoundly informed this work. Finally, the paper compares the SEMAT approach to the outlined model, and suggests a few points of critique and complementary elements to the SEMAT initiative, especially in its capabilities towards theorizing.