A1 Journal article (refereed)
The entrepreneurial logic of startup software development : A study of 40 software startups (2021)
Nguyen-Duc, A., Kemell, K.-K., & Abrahamsson, P. (2021). The entrepreneurial logic of startup software development : A study of 40 software startups. Empirical Software Engineering, 26(5), Article 91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10664-021-09987-z
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Nguyen-Duc, Anh; Kemell, Kai-Kristian; Abrahamsson, Pekka
Journal or series: Empirical Software Engineering
ISSN: 1382-3256
eISSN: 1573-7616
Publication year: 2021
Publication date: 06/07/2021
Volume: 26
Issue number: 5
Article number: 91
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication country: Netherlands
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10664-021-09987-z
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/78597
Abstract
Software startups are an essential source of innovation and software-intensive products. The need to understand product development in startups and to provide relevant support are highlighted in software research. While state-of-the-art literature reveals how startups develop their software, the reasons why they adopt these activities are underexplored.
Objective:
This study investigates the tactics behind software engineering (SE) activities by analyzing key engineering events during startup journeys. We explore how entrepreneurial mindsets may be associated with SE knowledge areas and with each startup case.
Method:
Our theoretical foundation is based on causation and effectuation models. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 40 software startups. We used two-round open coding and thematic analysis to describe and identify entrepreneurial software development patterns. Additionally, we calculated an effectuation index for each startup case.
Results:
We identified 621 events merged into 32 codes of entrepreneurial logic in SE from the sample. We found a systemic occurrence of the logic in all areas of SE activities. Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Technical Debt (TD), and Customer Involvement (CI) tend to be associated with effectual logic, while testing activities at different levels are associated with causal logic. The effectuation index revealed that startups are either effectuation-driven or mixed-logics-driven.
Conclusions:
Software startups fall into two types that differentiate between how traditional SE approaches may apply to them. Effectuation seems the most relevant and essential model for explaining and developing suitable SE practices for software startups.
Keywords: software sector; software engineering; software development; startup companies; product development; decision making
Free keywords: software startup engineering; entrepreneurial logics; effectuation theory; case study; effectuation index; software engineering for startups
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
JUFO rating: 3
