Behind the scenes of software work: how developers actually spend their days and what it means for project success.
This book examines time use in real-world software teams, using direct observation to complement self-reports. It explores how daily work is shaped by unplanned interruptions, social interactions, and the way people partition their time across tasks. The study looks at how developers communicate across channels, how office layout and collaboration influence productivity, and how self-reported diaries compare to what is observed in practice.
- Discover where time goes: meetings, code changes, reviews, and informal problem solving.
- See how unplanned requests and interruptions affect the flow of work.
- Understand how different communication channels (in person, email, phone, and more) shape daily activity.
- Learn how researchers measure bias and reconcile self-reports with observed behavior.
Ideal for readers who manage software teams, study organizational processes, or want practical insight into daily work life in large development settings.