An Empirical Study on Software Engineers Motivational Factors A. César C. França, Fabio Q. B. da Silva Abstract-This article describes a survey which aims to identify the relative importance of a set of factors that affect the motivation of software engineers at work. The conceptual underpinnings of human motivation used in the research are the Expectancy Theory and the Motivation-Hygiene Theory. In the study, a survey was conducted involving 176 software engineers from the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Data collected with the survey received statistical treatment to test correlation among the motivational factors, and the existing correlations were used to create a partial order relation that reflects relative importance, or systemic influence, among motivational factors. This is an important result for the definition of motivational programs in software organizations. The findings of this study contribute to the construction of empirically based methods for building and developing effective software engineering teams. Paper presented at Third International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement, Lake Buena Vista, 2009. http://www.haseresearch.com

1. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
An Empirical Study on
Software Engineers Motivational Factors
International Symposium on
Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL

2. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Outline
Introduction
Background
Method
Findings
Discussion
2

3. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Context
• Economic impacts of behavior management
– organizational climate where employees can feel respect and
valorization
– motivated people have better performance and greater alignment
with organizational goals
• Human Resources represents 70% of a software engineering
project costs
3
[Bowditch and Buono, 2007]
[SEI]
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion
Research Objective
Assess a set of motivational factors
Towards an ordered importance relation
that accurately represents the level of
motivational and dissatisfaction forces
exerted by these factors
on software engineers

4. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
What is Motivation?
• Expectancy Theory
– Individual + Context
– Valency, Expectancy and Instrumentality
• Motivation Hygiene Theory
– Motivacional Factors: drive individual behavior
– Hygienic Factors: repulse action
4
Motivation
Dissatisfaction
Satisfaction
“I Want”
(Valency)
Performance
“I Will”
(Expectancy) Effort
“I Can”
(Instrumentality) Motivation
[Latham, 2006]
[Salgado, 2005]
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion

5. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Software Engineer
Characteristics
Outcomes
Contextual
Result in
Mediate
Influence effectiveness of
Influence
strength of
Orientate
towards
Motivators
Inherent in Software
Engineering
Specific
organization/job
factors
Intrinsic Extrinsic
Personality
Motivation on Software Engineering
5
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion
[Badoo et al, 2007]
Work with people Balance between professional
Development processes and personal life
Project Life cycle Technical development
Change Exercise broadly personal skills
Challenging work Feedback
Problems resolution Rewards and Financial Incentives
Experimentation Career development
Creativity Empowerment
Meaningful products Identification with task
Decision Making Autonomy
Physical Conditions Working in a Successful Company
Technological conditions Competitive Salaries
Benefits Good Management
Equity
People Retention
Project Delivery Time
Productivity
Budgets
Low Absenteeism
Project Success

6. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Method
• Ad hoc literature review
• Field Study
– Set of Motivators (Motivational Factors)
– Questionnaire
– 176 Software Engineers
• 6,23% (3.000)
• Random Sample
• Printed version  74,9% response rate
– Dec/2008
– Recife, Brazil
6
[Porto Digital]
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion

7. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Independent Variables
7
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion

8. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Independent Variables
8
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion
Valency
Is this factor (Fx) important for you?
Instrumentality
Does your organization allow
you to perform this factor (Fx)?
Expectancy
Do you perform this factor (Fx)?
Motivational
Force (Fm)

9. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Independent Variables
9
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion
Valency
Is this factor (Fx) important for you?
Instrumentality
Does your organization allow
you to perform this factor (Fx)?
Expectancy
Do you perform this factor (Fx)?
Dissatisfaction
Are you satisfacted with (Hx) ...?
Actual
Motivation
(Mr)
0 < Mr ≤ 1

10. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Independent Variables
10
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion
Valency
Is this factor (Fx) important for you?
Instrumentality
Does your organization allow
you to perform this factor (Fx)?
Expectancy
Do you perform this factor (Fx)?
Dissatisfaction
Are you satisfacted with (Hx) ...?
Actual
Motivation
(Mr)
0 < Mr ≤ 1

11. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
• Systemic Relevance (W)
– Number of statistical correlation between one factor and all others
– Chi-squared test, significance level 0,001 (0,1%)
Dependent Variables
11
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion

12. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
12
Findings
Dissatisfaction Force
12
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion

13. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
13
Findings
Dissatisfaction Force Systemic Influence
13
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion
Impact of Dissatisfaction Force
(Fm - Mr = ~ 20%)
~20%

14. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Discussion
• Limitations
– Sample restrictions (not generalizable)
• Main contributions
– Dissatisfaction Force (Fm - Mr) ~ 20%
– Innovative approach (Systemic Influence)
– Motivation measurement tool
– Classification order of motivational factors
• Current/Future research
– Motivational programs for different project types
– Individual motivation  Team motivation
– Motivation x Performance
– Replication in a distinct environment
14
Introduction – Background – Method – Findings – Discussion

15. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
An Empirical Study on
Software Engineers Motivational Factors
Thanks!!
International Symposium on
Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL

16. A. César C. França
cesarfranca@gmail.com
Fabio Queda B. da Silva
fabio@cin.ufpe.br
06/03/2009
International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
Lake Buena Vista, FL
An Empirical Study on Software Engineers Motivational Factors by A. César C.
França, Fabio Q. B. da Silva is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at the Third International Symposium on Empirical Software
Engineering and Measurement, Lake Buena Vista, 2009.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available
at http://www.haseresearch.com