Identification of tacit knowledge associated with experience: a Chinese software industry study

This paper reports on a research project that aimed at identifying the professional and personal experience from individuals in the SMEs in the Software (SW) industry sector in China. This study employed an inductive qualitative approach based on a single case study and grounded theory (GT) data analysis. The SW company is a SME that specialises in multimedia SW research and development and is located in Xiamen City (Fujian Province, South of China). Six participants, selected on the basis of their role in SW design and development, were interviewed using a semi‐structured interview script. These in‐depth interviews ranged from 100 to 120 minutes in length. After completing the open coding of the six interview transcripts, the researcher obtained 121 codes and 215 quotations from the interview data. These codes were grouped and organized into a category hierarchy that included 6 main structured categories as the result of axial coding. The results of the study enabled the development of a taxonomy and classification of tacit knowledge related to experience in the different stages of the SW development process. The study also showed that each identified category of tacit knowledge is not necessarily confined to one specific SW development stage or even to a specific role in the process. This emergent theory challenges traditional perceptions that each stage requires very precise types of skills, experience and even types of individuals