Pandemic programming: How COVID-19 affects software developers and how their organizations can help

Journal article (2020)

Authors

Paul Ralph Dalhousie University
Sebastian Baltes University of Adelaide
Minghui Zhou Peking University
Burak Turhan University of Oulu, Monash University
Rashina Hoda Monash University
Hideaki Hata Nara Institute of Science and Technology
Gregorio Robles Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Amin Milani Fard New York Institute of Technology
Rana Alkadhi King Saud University
Gianisa Adisaputri Dalhousie University
Richard Torkar University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study
V.V. Kovalenko JetBrains
Marcos Kalinowski Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
Nicole Novielli University of Bari Aldo Moro
Shin Yoo Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Xavier Devroey Software Engineering - EEMCS
Xin Tan Peking University
Research Group
Software Engineering (EEMCS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 Paul Ralph, Sebastian Baltes, Gianisa Adisaputri, Richard Torkar, V.V. Kovalenko, Marcos Kalinowski, Nicole Novielli, Shin Yoo, Xavier Devroey, Xin Tan, Minghui Zhou, Burak Turhan, Rashina Hoda, Hideaki Hata, Gregorio Robles, Amin Milani Fard, Rana Alkadhi
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10664-020-09875-y
More Info
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

Faculty

Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

Department

Software Technology

Research Group

Software Engineering

Abstract

Context: As a novel coronavirus swept the world in early 2020, thousands of software developers began working from home. Many did so on short notice, under difficult and stressful conditions.

Objective: This study investigates the effects of the pandemic on developers’ wellbeing and productivity.

Method: A questionnaire survey was created mainly from existing, validated scales and translated into 12 languages. The data was analyzed using non-parametric inferential statistics and structural equation modeling.

Results: The questionnaire received 2225 usable responses from 53 countries. Factor analysis supported the validity of the scales and the structural model achieved a good fit (CFI = 0.961, RMSEA = 0.051, SRMR = 0.067). Confirmatory results include: (1) the pandemic has had a negative effect on developers’ wellbeing and productivity; (2) productivity and wellbeing are closely related; (3) disaster preparedness, fear related to the pandemic and home office ergonomics all affect wellbeing or productivity. Exploratory analysis suggests that: (1) women, parents and people with disabilities may be disproportionately affected; (2) different people need different kinds of support.

Conclusions: To improve employee productivity, software companies should focus on maximizing employee wellbeing and improving the ergonomics of employees’ home offices. Women, parents and disabled persons may require extra support.