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Birgit Penzenstadler

Publications and source records attributed to Birgit Penzenstadler.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Integrating Mental Health, Well-Being, and Sustainability into Software Engineering Education

Mental health and well-being are major concerns in higher education and professional fields such as software engineering, yet are often overlooked in curricula. This paper describes our approach to include mental health, well-being, and sustainability in software engineering education in two ways: (1) well-being-focused software projects that ask students to design technical solutions or research addressing mental health and sustainability or societal challenges, and (2) brief classroom interventions such as short reflective discussions and team-building activities. We argue that this combination can help students see software engineering more broadly while creating healthier learning environments. Our analysis of reflections from 60 students found several positive outcomes: students gained a more human-centred perspective, had more team discussions about mental health, and began to see well-being as inspiration for using software to benefit society and individuals rather than merely as a technical or business tool. By combining technical skills with awareness of well-being, we argue that software engineering education can prepare future developers to be both skilled programmers and responsible professionals who care about human well-being.

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arXiv2025

A Multimodal Approach Combining Biometrics and Self-Report Instruments for Monitoring Stress in Programming: Methodological Insights

The study of well-being, stress and other human factors has traditionally relied on self-report instruments to assess key variables. However, concerns about potential biases in these instruments, even when thoroughly validated and standardised, have driven growing interest in alternatives in combining these measures with more objective methods, such as physiological measures. We aimed to (i) compare psychometric stress measures and biometric indicators and (ii) identify stress-related patterns in biometric data during software engineering tasks. We conducted an experiment where participants completed a pre-survey, then programmed two tasks wearing biometric sensors, answered brief post-surveys for each, and finally went through a short exit interview. Our results showed diverse outcomes; we found no stress in the psychometric instruments. Participants in the interviews reported a mix of feeling no stress and experiencing time pressure. Finally, the biometrics showed a significant difference only in EDA phasic peaks. We conclude that our chosen way of inducing stress by imposing a stricter time limit was insufficient. We offer methodological insights for future studies working with stress, biometrics, and psychometric instruments.

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arXiv2025

Evaluating the Impact of a Yoga-Based Intervention on Software Engineers' Well-Being

Software engineering tasks are high-stress and cognitively demanding. Additionally, there is a latent risk of software engineers presenting burnout, depression and anxiety. Established interventions in other fields centred around attention awareness have shown positive results in mental well-being. We aim to test how effective a yoga intervention is in improving general well-being in the workplace. For that, we designed, implemented and evaluated an eight-week yoga programme in a software development company. We used a mixed-methods data collection, using a survey of six psychometric scales, pre and post-intervention, and a weekly well-being scale during the programme. For method triangulation, we conducted a focus group with the organisers to obtain qualitative data. The quantitative results did not show any statistically significant improvement after the intervention. Meanwhile, the qualitative results illustrated that participants felt better and liked the intervention. We conclude that yoga has a positive impact, which, however, can easily get overlaid by contextual factors, especially with only a once-per-week intervention.

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arXiv2025

The Factors Influencing Well-Being in Software Engineers: A Cross-Country Mixed-Method Study

The well-being of software engineers is increasingly under strain due to the high-stress nature of their roles, which involve complex problem-solving, tight deadlines, and the pressures of rapidly evolving technologies. Despite increasing recognition of mental health challenges in software engineering, few studies focus on the factors that sustain or undermine well-being. Existing research often overlooks the interaction between personal, collaborative, and organisational influences on this unique population. This study fills this gap by investigating the specific factors affecting the well-being of software engineers. We conducted 15 qualitative interviews and complemented them with a confirmatory cross-country survey to validate and extend our findings to a broader population. Our mixed-methods approach provides a robust framework to identify key factors influencing well-being, including personal perceptions of well-being, interpersonal and collaborative dynamics, workplace support and recognition, organisational culture, and specific stressors inherent to software engineering. By offering a detailed, context-specific exploration of these factors, our study builds on existing literature and provides actionable insights for improving well-being in software engineering. We conclude with policy recommendations to inform organisational strategies and develop targeted interventions that address the specific challenges of this field, contributing to more sustainable and supportive work environments.

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arXiv2024

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: The Role of Software Engineers

The landscape of software engineering is evolving rapidly amidst the digital transformation and the ascendancy of AI, leading to profound shifts in the role and responsibilities of software engineers. This evolution encompasses both immediate changes, such as the adoption of Language Model-based approaches in coding, and deeper shifts driven by the profound societal and environmental impacts of technology. Despite the urgency, there persists a lag in adapting to these evolving roles. By fostering ongoing discourse and reflection on Software Engineers role and responsibilities, this vision paper seeks to cultivate a new generation of software engineers equipped to navigate the complexities and ethical considerations inherent in their evolving profession.

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arXiv2024

A Road Less Travelled and Beyond: Towards a Roadmap for Integrating Sustainability into Computing Education

Education for sustainable development has evolved to include more constructive approaches and a better understanding of what is needed to align education with the cultural, societal, and pedagogical changes required to avoid the risks posed by an unsustainable society. This evolution aims to lead us toward viable, equitable, and sustainable futures. However, computing education, including software engineering, is not fully aligned with the current understanding of what is needed for transformational learning in light of our current challenges. This is partly because computing is primarily seen as a technical field, focused on industry needs. Until recently, sustainability was not a high priority for most businesses, including the digital sector, nor was it a prominent focus for higher education institutions and society. Given these challenges, we aim to propose a research roadmap to integrate sustainability principles and essential skills into the crowded computing curriculum, nurturing future software engineering professionals with a sustainability mindset. We conducted two extensive studies: a systematic review of academic literature on sustainability in computing education and a survey of industry professionals on their interest in sustainability and desired skills for graduates. Using insights from these studies, we identified key topics for teaching sustainability, including core sustainability principles, values and ethics, systems thinking, impact measurement, soft skills, business value, legal standards, and advocacy. Based on these findings, we will develop recommendations for future computing education programs that emphasise sustainability. The paper is accepted at the 2030 Software Engineering workshop, which is co-located with the FSE'24 conference.

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arXiv2024

European Network For Gender Balance in Informatics (EUGAIN): Activities and Results

This chapter provides a summary of the activities and results of the European Network For Gender Balance in Informatics (EUGAIN, EU COST Action CA19122). The main aim and objective of the network is to improve gender balance in informatics at all levels, from undergraduate and graduate studies to participation and leadership both in academia and industry, through the creation of a European network of colleagues working at the forefront of the efforts for gender balance in informatics in their countries and research communities.

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arXiv2024

Qualifying and Quantifying the Benefits of Mindfulness Practices for IT Workers

The well-being and productivity of IT workers are crucial for both individual success and the overall prosperity of the organisations they serve. This study proposes mindfulness to alleviate stress and improve mental well-being for IT workers. During an 8-week program, IT workers learn about mindfulness, coupled with breathing practices. This study investigates the potential effects of these practices by analysing participants' reflections through thematic analysis and daily well-being ratings. The analysis showcased an increase in mental well-being and perceived productivity. It also indicated a change in the participants' perception, which showed increased self-awareness. The study recommends continuing the program in the industry to see its impact on work outputs.

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arXiv2023

Sustainability Competencies and Skills in Software Engineering: An Industry Perspective

Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demands adequate levels of awareness and actions to address sustainability challenges. Software systems will play an important role in moving towards these targets. Sustainability skills are necessary to support the development of software systems and to provide sustainable IT-supported services for citizens. While there is a growing number of academic bodies, including sustainability education in engineering and computer science curricula, there is not yet comprehensive research on the competencies and skills required by IT professionals to develop such systems. This study aims to identify the industrial sustainability needs for education and training from software engineers' perspective. We conducted interviews and focus groups with experts from twenty-eight organisations with an IT division from nine countries to understand their interests, goals and achievements related to sustainability, and the skills and competencies needed to achieve their goals. Our findings show that organisations are interested in sustainability, both idealistically and increasingly for core business reasons. They seek to improve the sustainability of processes and products but encounter difficulties, like the trade-off between short-term financial profitability and long-term sustainability goals. To fill the gaps, they have promoted in-house training courses, collaborated with universities, and sent employees to external training. The acquired competencies make sustainability an integral part of software development. We conclude that educational programs should include knowledge and skills on core sustainability concepts, system thinking, soft skills, technical sustainability, sustainability impact and measurements, values and ethics, standards and legal aspects, and advocacy and lobbying.

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arXiv2022

Take a deep breath. Benefits of neuroplasticity practices for software developers and computer workers in a family of experiments

Context. Computer workers in general, and software developers specifically, are under a high amount of stress due to continuous deadlines and, often, over-commitment. Objective. This study investigates the effects of a neuroplasticity practice, a specific breathing practice, on the attention awareness, well-being, perceived productivity, and self-efficacy of computer workers. Method. We created a questionnaire mainly from existing, validated scales as entry and exit survey for data points for comparison before and after the intervention. The intervention was a 12-week program with a weekly live session that included a talk on a well-being topic and a facilitated group breathing session. During the intervention period, we solicited one daily journal note and one weekly well-being rating. We replicated the intervention in a similarly structured 8-week program. The data was analyzed using a Bayesian multi-level model for the quantitative part and thematic analysis for the qualitative part. Results. The intervention showed improvements in participants' experienced inner states despite an ongoing pandemic and intense outer circumstances for most. Over the course of the study, we found an improvement in the participants' ratings of how often they found themselves in good spirits as well as in a calm and relaxed state. We also aggregate a large number of deep inner reflections and growth processes that may not have surfaced for the participants without deliberate engagement in such a program. Conclusion. The data indicates usefulness and effectiveness of an intervention for computer workers in terms of increasing well-being and resilience. Everyone needs a way to deliberately relax, unplug, and recover. Breathing practice is a simple way to do so, and the results call for establishing a larger body of work to make this common practice.

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arXiv2019

Temporal Discounting in Software Engineering: A Replication Study

Background: Many decisions made in Software Engineering practices are intertemporal choices: trade-offs in time between closer options with potential short-term benefit and future options with potential long-term benefit. However, how software professionals make intertemporal decisions is not well understood. Aim: This paper investigates how shifting time frames influence preferences in software projects in relation to purposefully selected background factors. Method: We investigate temporal discounting by replicating a questionnaire-based observational study. The replication uses a changed-population and -experimenter design to increase the internal and external validity of the original results. Results: The results of this study confirm the occurrence of temporal discounting in samples of both professional and student participants from different countries and demonstrate strong variance in discounting between study participants. We found that professional experience influenced discounting. Participants with broader professional experience exhibited less discounting than those with narrower experience. Conclusions: The results provide strong empirical support for the relevance and importance of temporal discounting in SE and the urgency of targeted interdisciplinary research to explore the underlying mechanisms and their theoretical and practical implications. The results suggest that technical debt management could be improved by increasing the breadth of experience available for critical decisions with long-term impact. In addition, the present study provides a methodological basis for replicating temporal discounting studies in software engineering.

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arXiv2018

Status Quo in Requirements Engineering: A Theory and a Global Family of Surveys

Requirements Engineering (RE) has established itself as a software engineering discipline during the past decades. While researchers have been investigating the RE discipline with a plethora of empirical studies, attempts to systematically derive an empirically-based theory in context of the RE discipline have just recently been started. However, such a theory is needed if we are to define and motivate guidance in performing high quality RE research and practice. We aim at providing an empirical and valid foundation for a theory of RE, which helps software engineers establish effective and efficient RE processes. We designed a survey instrument and theory that has now been replicated in 10 countries world-wide. We evaluate the propositions of the theory with bootstrapped confidence intervals and derive potential explanations for the propositions. We report on the underlying theory and the full results obtained from the replication studies with participants from 228 organisations. Our results represent a substantial step forward towards developing an empirically-based theory of RE giving insights into current practices with RE processes. The results reveal, for example, that there are no strong differences between organisations in different countries and regions, that interviews, facilitated meetings and prototyping are the most used elicitation techniques, that requirements are often documented textually, that traces between requirements and code or design documents is common, requirements specifications themselves are rarely changed and that requirements engineering (process) improvement endeavours are mostly intrinsically motivated. Our study establishes a theory that can be used as starting point for many further studies for more detailed investigations. Practitioners can use the results as theory-supported guidance on selecting suitable RE methods and techniques.

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arXiv2018

On Using Blockchains for Safety-Critical Systems

Innovation in the world of today is mainly driven by software. Companies need to continuously rejuvenate their product portfolios with new features to stay ahead of their competitors. For example, recent trends explore the application of blockchains to domains other than finance. This paper analyzes the state-of-the-art for safety-critical systems as found in modern vehicles like self-driving cars, smart energy systems, and home automation focusing on specific challenges where key ideas behind blockchains might be applicable. Next, potential benefits unlocked by applying such ideas are presented and discussed for the respective usage scenario. Finally, a research agenda is outlined to summarize remaining challenges for successfully applying blockchains to safety-critical cyber-physical systems.

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arXiv2016

Report on the Third Workshop on Sustainable Software for Science: Practice and Experiences (WSSSPE3)

This report records and discusses the Third Workshop on Sustainable Software for Science: Practice and Experiences (WSSSPE3). The report includes a description of the keynote presentation of the workshop, which served as an overview of sustainable scientific software. It also summarizes a set of lightning talks in which speakers highlighted to-the-point lessons and challenges pertaining to sustaining scientific software. The final and main contribution of the report is a summary of the discussions, future steps, and future organization for a set of self-organized working groups on topics including developing pathways to funding scientific software; constructing useful common metrics for crediting software stakeholders; identifying principles for sustainable software engineering design; reaching out to research software organizations around the world; and building communities for software sustainability. For each group, we include a point of contact and a landing page that can be used by those who want to join that group's future activities. The main challenge left by the workshop is to see if the groups will execute these activities that they have scheduled, and how the WSSSPE community can encourage this to happen.

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arXiv2015

The Karlskrona manifesto for sustainability design

Sustainability is a central concern for our society, and software systems increasingly play a central role in it. As designers of software technology, we cause change and are responsible for the effects of our design choices. We recognize that there is a rapidly increasing awareness of the fundamental need and desire for a more sustainable world, and there is a lot of genuine goodwill. However, this alone will be ineffective unless we come to understand and address our persistent misperceptions. The Karlskrona Manifesto for Sustainability Design aims to initiate a much needed conversation in and beyond the software community by highlighting such perceptions and proposing a set of fundamental principles for sustainability design.

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