The Effect of coding dojos on internationally distributed virtual teams

Abstract

This master’s thesis investigates the effectiveness of Coding Dojo sessions in improving software development practices and fostering collaboration within international development teams. The research is conducted through interviews, observations, surveys, and a quasi-experiment involving a test and control group. This thesis begins by introducing the concept of Coding Dojo as a platform for collaborative learning and skill enhancement. It identifies the research questions that guide the study, focusing on code quality, efficiency, and knowledge exchange within a virtual coding environment. Through the analysis of findings, several key factors contributing to poor code quality are identified, including lack of understanding, psychological factors, technical challenges, and inadequate knowledge sharing. These insights lay the groundwork for targeted interventions and strategies to improve code structure, quality standards, and test coverage. Additionally, this thesis addresses concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness of online Coding Dojo sessions in international teams. The identified issues include time inefficiencies, lack of focus, rigid participant pairing sequences, and challenges in understanding unfamiliar concepts or programming languages.