DESCRIBE YOUR RESEARCH AREA AND FOCUS
My research interests fit within the broad topic of cooperative, social, and human aspects of software engineering. The underlying objectives of my research are to understand how software development teams achieve quality. I examine and study software development processes and ceremonies to identify and understand the behaviors, norms, and traditions that enable achieving quality. I have a particular interest in two main streams of software developments: Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) communities and Agile. My previous work on FOSS covered understanding how social norms, believes, individual and collective behaviors alike influence and enable achieving software quality.
Currently, I am working on a study to examine how Scrum as a method and system of values influences software development teams’ ability to improve software quality. The underpinning epistemological paradigm of my research is pragmatism. This paradigm refers to a worldview that focuses on ”what works.” It advocates the use of mixed methods in research. Pragmatism includes freedom of inquiry in which researchers can define issues that matter most to them and the community and pursue those issues in meaningful ways. Pragmatism includes rejecting skepticism, the willingness to accept that we are fallible, and realize that sharp dichotomies do not exist, but most beliefs are on a continuum. Inquiry that is based on pragmatic foundations embraces both ideas and actions.
PROJECTS YOU ARE/WILL BE INVOLVED IN?
My work contributes to the empirical software engineering research community. My area of research will remain and continue in the line of the social aspects of software development with a particular focus on software quality. I’ll start two projects this year. The first is to examine the impact of psychological safety on software developers; in particular, whether a psychologically safe environment enhances the motivation of developers to deliver better code quality and the overall software quality. I’m also interested in investigating how the sustainability or the lack of it impacts FOSS communities’ ability to maintain their quality standards.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE YOUR CAREER AT AALBORG UNIVERSITY?
I end up doing a PhD in Denmark because the research project was intellectually appealing to me. Later, I learned that the Danish academic work environment is collegial and progressive, which is a good fit for me. So, I decided to remain in Denmark and AAU exemplifies a typical academic Danish institution.
FUN AND OTHER FACTS?
Born and raised in Morocco. I was told I cook delicious couscous and tagines. Contrary to most believes, Arabic is not my native language! I equally learned Arabic and French at school and at home, I spoke Darija, a Berber dialect spoken across Morocco.