The effectiveness of software development technical reviews: A behaviorally motivated program of research

Software engineers use a number of different types of software development technical review (SDTR) for the purpose of detecting defects in software pr oducts. This paper applies the behavioral theory of group performance to ex plain the outcomes of software reviews. A program of empirical research is developed, including propositions to both explain review performance and id entify ways of improving review performance based on the specific strengths of individuals and groups. Its contributions are to clarify our understand ing of what drives defect detection performance in SDTRs and to set an agen da for future research. In identifying individuals' task expertise as the p rimary driver of review performance, the research program suggests specific points of leverage for substantially improving review performance. It poin ts to the importance of understanding software reading expertise and implie s the need for a reconsideration of existing approaches to managing reviews .