Knowledge management in software engineering - describing the process

The management of knowledge and experience are key means by which systematic software development and process improvement occur. Within the domain of software engineering (SE), quality continues to remain an issue of concern. Although remedies such as fourth generation programming languages, structured techniques and object-oriented technology have been promoted, a "silver bullet" has yet to be found. Knowledge management (KM) gives organisations the opportunity to appreciate the challenges and complexities inherent in software development. We report on two case studies that investigate KM in SE at two IT organisations. Structured interviews were conducted, with the assistance of a qualitative questionnaire. The results were used to describe current practices for KM in SE, to investigate the nature of KM activities in these organisations, and to explain the impact of leadership, technology, culture and measurement as enablers of the KM process for SE.