Supporting software maintenance with software engineering tools: A Computed task–technology fit analysis

Abstract

Management has turned to software engineering tools designed to support software maintenance as a potential solution to maintenance productivity and quality problems. Once adopted by an organisation, however, these tools are often not used. A research model, based on a task–technology fit (TTF) model, is developed to explain the factors which lead to the use of the software maintenance support tools. Our model, which examines the nature of the fit between software tool functionality and maintenance task demands, consists of a TTF model augmented with a model of the maintenance task and a model of software maintenance tool functionality. Such an augmented model is necessary for moving beyond isolated exploratory studies of maintenance and for building on the existing research in software development and software tool utilization. Using this model, fit between maintenance task and technology characteristics is computed for two dimensions of fit derived from the task and technology models. Tests of hypotheses derived from the model demonstrate that task–technology fit, computed using methods for computing strategic fit, is associated with increased tool utilization. Our findings provide direction for the development of better maintenance support tools. This research extends the application and usefulness of TTF models and maintenance task and technology models so that future software maintenance research can build on tested models.