Abstract:
The ever-increasing complexity of software systems presents increasingly difficult cognitive challenges to software engineers in all types of activities in the software development lifecycle, including requirement analysis, architecture, design, programming, and deployment. Over the years, different mechanisms such as programming paradigms, visual model representations, and development approaches have been developed to support software engineers when coping with the cognitive complexities presented by their tasks, and by the required coordination and collaboration within development teams. However, while overcoming some of the difficulties, other cognitive difficulties surface, some of which are introduced, or become more visible, when using these mechanisms. Using qualitative research tools and theories from cognitive psychology enables identifying the sources of these difficulties which, in turn, direct current and future efforts towards their resolution.

Bio: Irit Hadar is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Information Systems at the University of Haifa, and the Head of the Software Architecture Laboratory at the Caesarea Rothschild Institute for Interdisciplinary Applications of Computer Science. Her main research area is cognitive aspects of software architecture, design, and analysis. She published over 70 papers in international journals and conferences (CACM, JAIS, EJIS, REJ, IST, JSS, SCP, OOPSLA, AMCIS, etc.). She has been serving as an organizer and PC member in conferences and workshops (CAiSE, ICIS, AMCIS, MCIS, OOPSLA), and as a journal editorial board member (ACM TOCE). She holds a Ph.D. from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.