Pattern-based guideline to empirically analyse software development processes

Background: Little is yet known about how to qualitatively analyse development processes to steer their further optimisation. Thereby, companies are often left to the expertise of third parties when performing such an analysis. Aim: We aim at elaborating a way of empirically analysing development processes on basis of 9 empirical studies we performed at our research group. Method: We analyse 9 empirical studies for commonalities in their research objectives, research methodologies, cases, and methods used to infer a set of research methodology patterns. Results: We discover and discuss three methodology patterns, which we embed into a first experience-based guideline to conduct qualitative analyses of development processes. Conclusion: Our guideline is inferred from a series of successful studies. However, since qualitative analyses always will depend on many aspects that cannot be standardised, we lay with this contribution a first, but fundamental step to be further discussed, evaluated, and extended.