A Orientação Empreendedora (OE) é um tópico de estudo na temática do empreendedorismo. Entendida como empreendedorismo no nível organizacional, diversos autores têm sugerido que a OE pode influenciar positivamente o desempenho de uma organização. Alguns autores apontam que tem sido dada limitada ênfase na literatura para os eventos que desencadeiam o comportamento empreendedor nas organizações, um dos principais motivadores desse estudo, centrado na OE em organizações. O estudo se fundamenta na seguinte questão de pesquisa: A partir de uma base conceitual de OE e de um levantamento de práticas efetivas a ela relacionadas, que elementos possibilitam guiar ações visando a OE em organizações de software? O objetivo é propor um conjunto consolidado de elementos que possibilitem guiar ações visando a OE em organizações de software. Para isso, realizou-se pesquisa de natureza exploratória, com o uso de dados qualitativos. O estudo iniciou com pesquisa bibliográfica para constituição de base conceitual de OE. Em seguida, foi realizado estudo piloto para verificar a aplicabilidade da base conceitual. Numa etapa seguinte, realizou-se entrevista com especialistas dirigentes de entidades representativas do setor de software visando a identificação de organizações que se destacam em termos de empreendedorismo. Finalmente, procedeu-se à entrevista em profundidade com executivos dessas organizações com o intuito de fazer um levantamento de práticas efetivas de OE, tendo como referência a base conceitual adotada no estudo. Como resultado, apresenta-se um conjunto consolidado de elementos e categorias agregadoras, que enriqueceu a base conceitual de OE e foi consolidado a partir da literatura e da prática efetiva das organizações. Esse conjunto de elementos e categorias constitui importante referência para guiar ações visando a OE em organizações de software. Em termos teóricos, o estudo contribui com o enriquecimento e detalhamento da base conceitual de OE e suas dimensões, e, sobretudo, a proposição de categorias agregadoras e a consolidação de seus elementos. Em termos práticos contribui para que executivos, empresários, gestores de organizações de software possam obter subsídios para guiar ações visando a OE. / The Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) is a studying topic in the entrepreneurship theme. Several authors who understand EO as entrepreneurship in the organizational level suggest that EO can influence the performance of an organization in a positive way. Some authors point that it has been given limited emphasis to events which derive organizational entrepreneurial behaviors. That is one of the main motivations of this EO centered study which has its foundation in the following research question: Based on a conceptual basis of EO as well as on a researched list of effective practices related to that EO model in organizations, what are the elements which make it possible to conduct actions in the direction of EO in software organizations? The objective is to propose a consolidated set of elements which allow actions aiming at EO in software organizations. For that reason an exploratory research was carried out using qualitative data. The study started with a literature review in order to compose the conceptual basis of EO. Afterwards a pilot study was done to verify the applicability of the conceptual basis. The following step was an interview with specialists who are administrators in representative organizations in the software sector to identify the ones which are outstanding in terms of entrepreneurship. Finally a deeper interview with executives from those organizations was conducted to make an account of EO effective practices having the conceptual basis of EO as its basis. As a result, a set of consolidated elements and aggregated categories which enhanced the conceptual basis of EO were presented based on the literature and on effective practice of EO. That set of elements and aggregating categories constitute important reference to conduct actions in the EO direction in software organizations. In theoretical terms the study contributes to the enhancement and detailing of the conceptual basis of EO and its dimensions mainly through the proposition of aggregating categories and consolidation of its elements. In practical ways it contributes to executives, directors and managers in software organizations who can get subsidies to conduct actions aiming at EO.

A Orientação Empreendedora (OE) é um tópico de estudo na temática do empreendedorismo. Entendida como empreendedorismo no nível organizacional, diversos autores têm sugerido que a OE pode influenciar positivamente o desempenho de uma organização. Alguns autores apontam que tem sido dada limitada ênfase na literatura para os eventos que desencadeiam o comportamento empreendedor nas organizações, um dos principais motivadores desse estudo, centrado na OE em organizações. O estudo se fundamenta na seguinte questão de pesquisa: A partir de uma base conceitual de OE e de um levantamento de práticas efetivas a ela relacionadas, que elementos possibilitam guiar ações visando a OE em organizações de software? O objetivo é propor um conjunto consolidado de elementos que possibilitem guiar ações visando a OE em organizações de software. Para isso, realizou-se pesquisa de natureza exploratória, com o uso de dados qualitativos. O estudo iniciou com pesquisa bibliográfica para constituição de base conceitual de OE. Em seguida, foi realizado estudo piloto para verificar a aplicabilidade da base conceitual. Numa etapa seguinte, realizou-se entrevista com especialistas dirigentes de entidades representativas do setor de software visando a identificação de organizações que se destacam em termos de empreendedorismo. Finalmente, procedeu-se à entrevista em profundidade com executivos dessas organizações com o intuito de fazer um levantamento de práticas efetivas de OE, tendo como referência a base conceitual adotada no estudo. Como resultado, apresenta-se um conjunto consolidado de elementos e categorias agregadoras, que enriqueceu a base conceitual de OE e foi consolidado a partir da literatura e da prática efetiva das organizações. Esse conjunto de elementos e categorias constitui importante referência para guiar ações visando a OE em organizações de software. Em termos teóricos, o estudo contribui com o enriquecimento e detalhamento da base conceitual de OE e suas dimensões, e, sobretudo, a proposição de categorias agregadoras e a consolidação de seus elementos. Em termos práticos contribui para que executivos, empresários, gestores de organizações de software possam obter subsídios para guiar ações visando a OE. / The Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) is a studying topic in the entrepreneurship theme. Several authors who understand EO as entrepreneurship in the organizational level suggest that EO can influence the performance of an organization in a positive way. Some authors point that it has been given limited emphasis to events which derive organizational entrepreneurial behaviors. That is one of the main motivations of this EO centered study which has its foundation in the following research question: Based on a conceptual basis of EO as well as on a researched list of effective practices related to that EO model in organizations, what are the elements which make it possible to conduct actions in the direction of EO in software organizations? The objective is to propose a consolidated set of elements which allow actions aiming at EO in software organizations. For that reason an exploratory research was carried out using qualitative data. The study started with a literature review in order to compose the conceptual basis of EO. Afterwards a pilot study was done to verify the applicability of the conceptual basis. The following step was an interview with specialists who are administrators in representative organizations in the software sector to identify the ones which are outstanding in terms of entrepreneurship. Finally a deeper interview with executives from those organizations was conducted to make an account of EO effective practices having the conceptual basis of EO as its basis. As a result, a set of consolidated elements and aggregated categories which enhanced the conceptual basis of EO were presented based on the literature and on effective practice of EO. That set of elements and aggregating categories constitute important reference to conduct actions in the EO direction in software organizations. In theoretical terms the study contributes to the enhancement and detailing of the conceptual basis of EO and its dimensions mainly through the proposition of aggregating categories and consolidation of its elements. In practical ways it contributes to executives, directors and managers in software organizations who can get subsidies to conduct actions aiming at EO.

A Orientação Empreendedora (OE) é um tópico de estudo na temática do empreendedorismo. Entendida como empreendedorismo no nível organizacional, diversos autores têm sugerido que a OE pode influenciar positivamente o desempenho de uma organização. Alguns autores apontam que tem sido dada limitada ênfase na literatura para os eventos que desencadeiam o comportamento empreendedor nas organizações, um dos principais motivadores desse estudo, centrado na OE em organizações. O estudo se fundamenta na seguinte questão de pesquisa: A partir de uma base conceitual de OE e de um levantamento de práticas efetivas a ela relacionadas, que elementos possibilitam guiar ações visando a OE em organizações de software? O objetivo é propor um conjunto consolidado de elementos que possibilitem guiar ações visando a OE em organizações de software. Para isso, realizou-se pesquisa de natureza exploratória, com o uso de dados qualitativos. O estudo iniciou com pesquisa bibliográfica para constituição de base conceitual de OE. Em seguida, foi realizado estudo piloto para verificar a aplicabilidade da base conceitual. Numa etapa seguinte, realizou-se entrevista com especialistas dirigentes de entidades representativas do setor de software visando a identificação de organizações que se destacam em termos de empreendedorismo. Finalmente, procedeu-se à entrevista em profundidade com executivos dessas organizações com o intuito de fazer um levantamento de práticas efetivas de OE, tendo como referência a base conceitual adotada no estudo. Como resultado, apresenta-se um conjunto consolidado de elementos e categorias agregadoras, que enriqueceu a base conceitual de OE e foi consolidado a partir da literatura e da prática efetiva das organizações. Esse conjunto de elementos e categorias constitui importante referência para guiar ações visando a OE em organizações de software. Em termos teóricos, o estudo contribui com o enriquecimento e detalhamento da base conceitual de OE e suas dimensões, e, sobretudo, a proposição de categorias agregadoras e a consolidação de seus elementos. Em termos práticos contribui para que executivos, empresários, gestores de organizações de software possam obter subsídios para guiar ações visando a OE. / The Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) is a studying topic in the entrepreneurship theme. Several authors who understand EO as entrepreneurship in the organizational level suggest that EO can influence the performance of an organization in a positive way. Some authors point that it has been given limited emphasis to events which derive organizational entrepreneurial behaviors. That is one of the main motivations of this EO centered study which has its foundation in the following research question: Based on a conceptual basis of EO as well as on a researched list of effective practices related to that EO model in organizations, what are the elements which make it possible to conduct actions in the direction of EO in software organizations? The objective is to propose a consolidated set of elements which allow actions aiming at EO in software organizations. For that reason an exploratory research was carried out using qualitative data. The study started with a literature review in order to compose the conceptual basis of EO. Afterwards a pilot study was done to verify the applicability of the conceptual basis. The following step was an interview with specialists who are administrators in representative organizations in the software sector to identify the ones which are outstanding in terms of entrepreneurship. Finally a deeper interview with executives from those organizations was conducted to make an account of EO effective practices having the conceptual basis of EO as its basis. As a result, a set of consolidated elements and aggregated categories which enhanced the conceptual basis of EO were presented based on the literature and on effective practice of EO. That set of elements and aggregating categories constitute important reference to conduct actions in the EO direction in software organizations. In theoretical terms the study contributes to the enhancement and detailing of the conceptual basis of EO and its dimensions mainly through the proposition of aggregating categories and consolidation of its elements. In practical ways it contributes to executives, directors and managers in software organizations who can get subsidies to conduct actions aiming at EO.

Modern software organizations produce increasingly complex and sophisticated products that build on the effort of multiple individuals and teams. This reality highlights the critical importance of collaboration and the support of its various facets, which are still central concerns for software engineering research and practice. Software organizations also aim to motivate their developers and teams and help them be productive. Knowledge work research highlights the importance of autonomy in work design for satisfaction and happiness. The now pervasive adoption of agile methods and advocacy of self-organization have made autonomy and its challenging practical application a mainstream focus for software engineering research and practice. Employee autonomy and effective collaboration are thus essential for software companies to motivate developers and help them deliver successful software products. Yet, essential as it might be for organizations to combine them, autonomy and collaboration seem conceptually and practically at odds with one another; is it possible for people or teams that are working together on something be autonomous? One can imagine teams finding it challenging to organize the development work of autonomous developers. Furthermore, on the organizational level it can be difficult to align autonomous agents towards a desirable company strategy. Finally, management may need to be revisited as a function when individuals or teams have autonomy in their work. Given the complex landscape that software teams are part of in today’s mod- ern organizations, we need to understand how they collaborate in the context of their environment. This dissertation builds on three substantial, diverse case studies based in industry, capturing various ways that several software organizations organize collaborative development work. In the first study I examined how 24 commercial software teams in di↵erent companies organize their development work through their use of GitHub. In the second study I probed how Atlassian scales the practices of its rapidly growing development teams and enacts a culture that keeps them aligned to the strategic goals. In the third study I explored the role of engineering managers at Microsoft and how they support software developers and teams to organize their own work and generate quality outcomes that meet organizational goals. The studies are primarily qualitative and I have used a variety of data collection methods including interviews, observations, documentation review, and surveys. Tension between autonomy and collaboration surfaced in the studies and it be- came the central challenge I investigate in this dissertation. By understanding the meaning of autonomy for the studied organizations, the definition and characteristics of autonomy evolved and, upon synthesis of the findings, I argue that autonomy is not incompatible with collaboration but rather that the two concepts build on each other. I articulate and propose a conceptual framework of collaboration via aligned autonomy for software companies in this dissertation. This represents a holistic view of organizations and includes four areas to consider when making autonomy the foundation of collaboration: team collaboration practices, scaling strategies, cultural values, and manager roles. The framework has implications for the study of collaborative software development by proposing to look beyond the combination of independence and coordination as the basis of collaboration. At the same time, the framework can guide commercial software teams and organizations on how to empower development teams, yet not compromise strategic vision. / Graduate

Knowledge is one of the most important assets of an organization that directly affects business success, and its importance increases for organizations that use knowledge-intensive processes such as the software development industry. In an industry in which technological developments are rapid, in order to keep up with the continuously increasing competition and to obtain competitive advantage the software organizations need to obtain the correct knowledge, use it efficiently and pass it to future projects evolving it accordingly. The major aim of this research is to propose a novel model, namely AiOLoS, for assessing the level of organizational learning and learning characteristics in software development organizations. The primary contributions of this two-legged AiOLoS model are the identification of the major process areas and the core processes that a learning software organization follows during its organizational learning process and to provide the necessary measures and metrics and the corresponding definitions/interpretations for the assessment of the learning characteristics of the software development organization. The research is supported with a multiple case-study work conducted in software development teams in order to identify the mapping of the core processes and the applicability of the AiOLoS model to software development organizations, its utilization as a tool for assessing organizational learning and providing a basis for software process improvement.

Software is one of the core elements that drive the modern economy, with visible use in areas such as personal computing, telecommunications and banking, and background use in areas such as aircraft traffic management, nuclear power generation, and automotive control systems. Organizations that build software are unique in that they span industrial domains, and at their core of what they do is codifying human knowledge. When we talk about software organizations, we think of organizations that work in the three broad areas of shrink wrapped application software, software-intensive systems, or software services.  By shrink wrapped application software, we refer to the software that one can buy in a retail store for use on his or her computer. Software-intensive systems are part of a larger system such as air traffic management, and software services focus on making software work for other organizations. This thesis uses studies of eight software organizations to understand how these organizations are able to identify changes to their environment, and create the required capabilities to meet those changes – in other words, how these organizations gain enterprise agility. To understand enterprise agility, we ask three simple questions, namely how does the organization improve what it currently does? What does the organization do? and Who does the work that the organization chooses to do? By answering each of these questions in the context of software organizations, we identify the three mechanisms of Software Process Improvement (SPI), Creating Systems of Innovation (CSI), and Leveraging Globally Available Capabilities (LGAC). These three mechanisms are interconnected and interdependent. By creating rich descriptions of how these mechanisms are implemented in the organizations that we studied in the thesis, we are able to build confidence that these mechanisms are an accurate representation of the approaches that organizations use. In addition to identifying the mechanisms, by analyzing across the cases, we identify the four organizational enablers of stakeholder alignment, employee empowerment, group & organizational learning, and governance. Organizations can create enterprise agility by ensuring the presence of the four organizational enablers and leveraging some combination of the three mechanisms. While it is possible for the organization to create enterprise agility in the absence of these mechanisms, we believe that the agility generated is not sustainable. To survive in the tough economic conditions of today, software organizations need to be aware of, and actively manage both the enablers and the mechanisms for sustained success. This thesis is a first step in finding more effective ways to manage software organizations as a whole, rather than as a collection of individual projects. It presents a philosophy of thinking about software organizations that addresses the uniqueness of these organizations while at the same time leveraging best practices and thought leadership from the disciplines of software engineering, quality,  knowledge management, strategy, organizational theory, and stakeholder theory.