Challenges for Inclusion in Software Engineering: The Case of the Emerging Papua New Guinean Society

TL;DR

The paper investigates the challenges and opportunities for Software Engineering in Papua New Guinea as it moves toward the global software industry. It uses a qualitative BRIDGES-based study comprising three workshop talks, 52 questionnaire responses, and a five-person focus group, analyzed via thematic analysis to identify five core themes. The findings highlight barriers such as limited SE training and trust deficits, alongside opportunities in off-the-shelf customization, digital leapfrogging, and local investment potential. These insights inform actions for PNG practitioners, global researchers, and educators, advocating targeted training, trust-building, open-source participation, and education reform to foster inclusive SE development in emerging economies.

Abstract

Software plays a central role in modern societies, with its high economic value and potential for advancing societal change. In this paper, we characterise challenges and opportunities for a country progressing towards entering the global software industry, focusing on Papua New Guinea (PNG). By hosting a Software Engineering workshop, we conducted a qualitative study by recording talks (n=3), employing a questionnaire (n=52), and administering an in-depth focus group session with local actors (n=5). Based on a thematic analysis, we identified challenges as barriers and opportunities for the PNG software engineering community. We also discuss the state of practices and how to make it inclusive for practitioners, researchers, and educators from both the local and global software engineering community.

Figures (2)

• Figure 1: Overview of the thematic approach for the study
• Figure 2: Summary of the three data sources, from which information was collected for the study.