Near-Synchronicity and Distance: Instant Messaging as a Medium for Global Software Engineering

Global distribution of software engineering introduces geographical, temporal, cultural and organizational distance into teamwork. Communication media differ in properties and capabilities to overcome the challenges imposed by these distances. Media Synchronicity Theory (MST) aims at explaining the capabilities of communication media and their effect on sharing information and building understanding. Instant messaging (IM), a tool commonly used in distributed projects, falls in between of synchronous and asynchronous communication, therefore making it interesting subject for study. In this paper, we examine the use of IM in distributed software engineering projects. We use MST as a framework to evaluate if and how instant messenger is able to address the challenges imposed by distribution of software projects. Our main finding is that while IM is capable of supporting both information sharing and building common understanding, other communication media are needed, most notably email, issue trackers and teleconferencing, to initiate and maintain communication efficiently.