Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: We have conducted a qualitative psychology study to explore the experience of feeling overwhelmed in the realm of software development. Through the candid confessions of two participants who have recently faced overwhelming challenges, we have identified seven distinct categories: communication-induced, disturbance-related, organizational, variety, technical, temporal, and positive overwhelm. While most types of overwhelm tend to deteriorate productivity and increase stress levels, developers sometimes perceive overwhelm as a catalyst for heightened focus, self-motivation, and productivity. Stress was often found to be a common companion of overwhelm. Our findings align with previous studies conducted in diverse disciplines. However, we believe that software developers possess unique traits that may enable them to navigate through the storm of overwhelm more effectively.
Source: IEEE Software
Authors: Lisa-Marie Michels, Aleksandra Petkova, Marcel Richter, Andreas Farley, Daniel Graziotin, Stefan Wagner
Institutions: University of Stuttgart, University of Hohenheim
Language: English
Topic: Stress and Burnout Research
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4392642651