Software Engineering as Cooperative Work

Software engineering research (SE) as research on computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) is discussed. CSCW, as is well-known, is firmly based on a worldview that stresses the role of human actors in the production of technical artifacts, and in particular how best to understand the cooperative engagements that inevitably underpin human activity. Software engineering has, historically emphasized the nature of the process entailed in production. The challenges of globally distributed research are at the center of another cluster of studies has generated enough critical mass its own conference on 'Global Software Development'. Computer mediated awareness tools have become increasingly relevant. The innovative design of a tool that can be extended to not only support developers with awareness information related to code changes, but also related artifacts.