Communication and Meta-Communication in Software Engineering

This paper examines the application of meta-communication concepts within the Software Engineering Process. It explores the critical role of IT project communication alongside project management tools, such as the internet and email, essential for successful software development. The influence of socio-cognitive engineering (SCE) is increasingly recognized in addressing human and organizational errors by software developers and managers under high-risk conditions. Project Communications Management is pivotal in maintaining coherence among project stakeholders to prevent process breakdowns that could affect outcomes. The paper also discusses socio-cognitive modeling using the TOGA meta-theory, highlighting cognitive decision-making and the vulnerabilities arising from human errors and organizational factors. The formal TOGA-based network model helps identify nodes and arcs prone to errors by software developers and managers. Additionally, the paper presents a classification of decision-making processes relevant to diagnosing software development errors. These models are valuable for training IT project management executives.