The Impact of Dynamics of Collaborative Software Engineering on Introverts: A Study Protocol

Background: Collaboration among software engineers through face-to-face discussions in teams has been promoted since the adoption of agile methods. However, these discussions might demote the contribution of software engineers who are introverts, possibly leading to sub-optimal solutions and creating work environments that benefit extroverts. Objective: We aim to evaluate whether providing software engineers with time to work individually and reason about a collective problem is a setting that makes introverts more comfortable to interact and contribute more, ultimately leading to better solutions. Method: We plan to conduct a between-subjects study, with teams in a control group that design a software architecture in a team discussion meeting and teams in a treatment group in which subjects work individually before engaging in a meeting. We will assess and compare the amount of contribution of introverts, their subjective experiences, and the designed solutions. Limitations: As extroverts will be present in both groups, we will not be able to conclude that better solutions are solely due to the increased participation of introverts. The analyses of their subjective experience and amount of contributions might provide evidence to suggest the reasons for observed differences.