StartCards : A method for early-stage software startups
Kemell, K.-K., Nguyen-Duc, A., Suoranta, M., & Abrahamsson, P. (2023). StartCards : A method for early-stage software startups. Information and Software Technology, 160, Article 107224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2023.107224
Published in
Information and Software TechnologyDate
2023Discipline
ResurssiviisausyhteisöStrategia ja yrittäjyysKestävä liiketoiminta ja talous (painoala)TietojärjestelmätiedeEmpirical Cyber Security and Software EngineeringResponsible Management, Learning, Digitalization & StrategySchool of Resource WisdomStrategy and EntrepreneurshipSustainable Business and Economy (focus area)Information Systems ScienceEmpirical Cyber Security and Software EngineeringResponsible Management, Learning, Digitalization & StrategyCopyright
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.
Context:
Software startups are important drivers of economy on a global scale, and have become associated with innovation and high growth. However, the overwhelming majority of startups ends in failure. Many of these startup failures ultimately stem from software engineering issues, and requirements engineering (RE) ones in particular. Despite the emphasis placed on the importance of RE activities in the startup context, many startups continue to develop software without a clear market or customer, having never had meaningful contact with their would-be customer.
Objective:
We develop a method aimed at early-stage startups that is intended to help startups through the initial stages of the startup process: StartCards. The method emphasizes the importance of idea and product validation activities in particular in order to tackle anti-patterns related to (a lack of) RE in startups. This method is based on existing literature, both grey and academic literature.
Method:
StartCards was developed using the Canonical Action Research (CAR) approach, over the course of 4 AR cycles. During the AR process, the method was used by 43 student startup teams in a practical course setting. Data from the use of the method was collected through self-reporting in the form of modified learning diaries, mentoring meetings with the startup teams, and a qualitative survey.
Results:
We consider the current version of StartCards useful for early-stage startups based on the data we have collected. The method can also be used as a pedagogical tool in startup education.
Conclusions:
The paper presents the first published version of the method. While work on the method continues, the method is deemed ready for use.
...
Publisher
Elsevier BVISSN Search the Publication Forum
0950-5849Keywords
Publication in research information system
https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/182723399
Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
- Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta [2275]
- Kauppakorkeakoulu [1355]
License
Related items
Showing items with similar title or keywords.
-
Quality culture boosts agile transformation : Action research in a business‐to‐business software business
Saarikallio, Matti; Tyrväinen, Pasi (John Wiley & Sons, 2023)Agile methodologies are sometimes adopted, with the assumption that benefits can be attained by only using a set of best practices, which can sometimes work to a degree. In this paper, a case is discussed where a ... -
Product managers in software startups : A grounded theory
Melegati, Jorge; Wiese, Igor; Guerra, Eduardo; Chanin, Rafael; Aldaeej, Abdullah; Mikkonen, Tommi; Prikladnicki, Rafael; Wang, Xiaofeng (Elsevier, 2024)Objective: This study aims to describe the role of product managers in the context of software startups. Method: We performed a Socio-Technical Grounded Theory study using data from blog posts and interviews. Results: The ... -
Internal Software Startups : A Multiple Case Study on Practices, Methods, and Success Factors
Kemell, Kai-Kristian; Risku, Juhani; Strandjord, Kari Eline; Nguyen-Duc, Anh; Wang, Xiaofeng; Abrahamsson, Pekka (IEEE, 2020)Startups are often seen as drivers of innovation. In an attempt to leverage this potential, larger business organizations have founded internal startups as a subset of internal corporate ventures (ICV). These smaller ... -
Software Startup Practices : Software Development in Startups Through the Lens of the Essence Theory of Software Engineering
Kemell, Kai-Kristian; Ravaska, Ville; Nguyen-Duc, Anh; Abrahamsson, Pekka (Springer, 2020)Software startups continue to be important drivers of economy globally. As the initial investment required to found a new software company becomes smaller and smaller resulting from technological advances such as cloud ... -
The entrepreneurial logic of startup software development : A study of 40 software startups
Nguyen-Duc, Anh; Kemell, Kai-Kristian; Abrahamsson, Pekka (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021)Context: Software startups are an essential source of innovation and software-intensive products. The need to understand product development in startups and to provide relevant support are highlighted in software research. ...