On Evidence-based Feedback Practices in Software Engineering for Continuous People Improvement

Abstract

Poor feedback practices for professional development can stall, or even reverse, the professional growth of software engineering professionals. Yet, when setting up feedback systems, organizations often rely on experience or “anecdotal evidence” due to a lack of empirically-grounded guidelines that support those who give and those who receive feedback. Based on responses from a web-based survey, we describe initial challenges and strategies for professional feedback specifically in software engineering. We then explore how software engineering practice can progress towards more evidence-based feedback systems to ensure the continuous growth of professionals. We also present new directions for future research.