Authors:
Jennifer Gross
;
Temesgen Hagos Mengesha
and
Sofia Ouhbi
Affiliation:
Dept. Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Keyword(s):
Software Sustainability, Questionnaire Study, Industry, Practitioners, Perceptions.
Abstract:
Despite growing awareness, many industry efforts regarding software sustainability often appear superficial and fail to address its complex, multifaceted nature. This paper examines software sustainability practices in the industry through the perspectives of IT practitioners. A questionnaire study involving 23 professionals based in Sweden revealed a significant gap in understanding, with 35% of participants unfamiliar with the term “software sustainability.” Most definitions provided by participants focused on technical aspects, overlooking economic and social dimensions. The findings indicate that key barriers perceived by participants to integrating sustainability include a lack of awareness, time and budget constraints, and skepticism toward sustainability metrics. A majority of respondents recognized the link between sustainability and software quality. To promote sustainable software practices, respondents recommended embedding sustainability into industry practices and educat
ional curricula, as well as developing clear metrics to measure its impact.
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