Dynamics of intellectual capital and managerial perspectives in software development process

Abstract

From a more generic framework of intellectual capital, as well as from a more focused model of perspectives in software development, this article analyses the role of the three domains of a software development process at a project level (organisational capital or production perspective, social capital or social perspective and human capital or individual perspective). The analysis of our case study suggests that the three areas of intellectual capital require different kinds of attention in different phases of project work. In the system level coordination phase of the project, where system-level structure and interfaces have to be decided through social interaction, the social capital clearly takes top importance. Then, in the production process, the emphasis is, as our model also proposes, in the procedural (organisational) capital. In the final troubleshooting and adjustment phase the work is mainly conducted by individuals, and the organisation rightfully relies on the knowledge and skills of its individuals (human capital).