Bridging theory and practice in software design management: insights from practitioners

Research into the foundational theories and management of software design remains limited. A 2010 workshop was convened to explore professional software development practices. The workshop sought to foster collaboration between the software engineering and design communities by examining foundational aspects of software design. Building on that workshop’s objectives, this paper investigates contemporary professional software design practice and its management within organizational contexts. It is informed by findings from three interviews with experienced software design managers. This work addresses an important gap by examining software design management through the lens of design rather than solely from a project management perspective. Additionally, it contributes to the development of a general theory of software design by integrating diverse theoretical frameworks.