Using grounded theory coding mechanisms to analyze case study and focus group data in the context of software process research

Abstract

The primary aim of this chapter is to outline a potentially powerful framework for the combination of research approaches utilizing the Grounded Theory coding mechanism for Case Study, and Focus Groups data analysis. A secondary aim of this chapter is to provide a roadmap for such a usage by way of an example research project. The context for this project is the need to study and evaluate the actual practice of software development processes in real world commercial settings of software companies, which utilized both case study and focus group techniques. This research found that grounded theory coding strategies are a suitable and powerful data analysis mechanism to explore case study and focus group data.