The ramp-up problem in software projects: a case study of how software immigrants naturalize

Joining a software development team is like moving to a new country to start employment; the immigrant has a lot to learn about the job, the local customs, and sometimes a new language. In an exploratory case study, we interviewed four software immigrants, in order to characterize their naturalization process. Seven patterns in four major categories were found. In this paper, these patterns are substantiated, and their implications discussed. The lessons learned from this study can be applied equally to improving the naturalization process, and to the formulation of further research questions.