Thoughts on the Autonomy of Workers in Decisionmaking during Product Development : A Case Study of the Middle and Lower Processes of Software Development

Abstract

This thesis aims at clarifying the nature of the autonomy possessed by information technology （IT） workers engaged in the middle and lower processes of software development. The autonomy frames how the workers make decisions during the development process.In software development, there is a multi―layered subcontract structure. Thus, during the process of development software and other products, the skills required for IT workers vary greatly. Moreover, the nature of the autonomy which workers possess also varies. Therefore, in this thesis, I examine the autonomy in the middle and lower processes based on a hierarchy characteristic of such a production structure through investigative interviewing. In addition, I analyze the nature of the autonomy exercised by workers during the development processes.Generally, in the lower processes, the worker’s discretion becomes more and more limited. However, in the middle and lower processes the workers themselves adopt procedures in the course of the development process. I propose that there are two aspects of autonomy, external and substantial, depending on the presence of skills.