RDEL #44: Does reflective goal setting improve software engineering productivity?

This week we study whether and how goal setting can improve the focus, productivity, and well-being of software engineers.

Welcome back to Research-Driven Engineering Leadership. Each week, we pose an interesting topic in engineering leadership, and apply the latest research in the field to drive to an answer.

Motivated software engineers are often looking for habits to improve their focus, productivity and well-being. This week we look at a practice that has been used across disciplines to achieve such an outcome: goal setting. Specifically, does reflective goal-setting improve software engineering productivity?

The context

In the fast-paced field of software engineering, maintaining productivity and ensuring well-being are critical yet challenging goals. Software developers often face issues like fragmented work, high cognitive load, and inefficiencies that can lead to burnout and reduced performance.

Reflective goal-setting has emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges. This method, which involves regular self-reflection and setting personal goals for improvement, has been successfully applied in various fields such as health and education. By encouraging developers to reflect on their work habits and set actionable goals, reflective goal-setting aims to enhance self-awareness, motivation, and ultimately, productivity and job satisfaction. This approach not only helps in identifying areas for personal and professional growth but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement within engineering teams.

The research

To understand the impact of goal setting, researchers studied 52 professional software developers who engaged in daily self-reflection over two to three weeks. The researchers aimed to understand the types of goals developers set for themselves, the strategies they employ to achieve these goals, and the impact of reflective goal-setting on their productivity and well-being.

Self-reported reflections on the value and impact of goal setting

Researchers discovered a few findings on developing goals, as well as their impact on overall productivity and well-being:

• Developing goals and strategies:

  • 80.8% of engineers attributed their ability to identify concrete goals to continuous self-reflection

  • 83.3% of engineers developed actionable strategies to reach their goals through daily reflections.

• Goal-setting impact:

  • 84.5% of engineers reporting improved awareness of their behaviors and work patterns​​.

  • 79.6% of engineers reported positive behavior changes that increased their productivity and well-being.

• Continued practice:

  • 96.1% could imagine continuing self-reflection regularly, though some found daily reflection to be potentially burdensome​​.

The application

This paper offers some validation to the idea of reflective goal setting as a powerful tool to improve outcomes. Encouraging a culture of reflective goal-setting within their teams can help developers become more aware of their work habits and identify specific areas for improvement.

Here are a few tips to encourage reflective goal-setting as a practice:

• Facilitate a self-reflection culture (organically or with tools): By integrating self-reflection practices into regular workflows, habits can more easily be built and maintained. Tools and processes that facilitate regular self-reflection, such as end-of-day summaries or weekly review meetings, can be implemented to support this practice.

• Provide structure for reflection: Additionally, leaders should consider providing structured frameworks, like SMART goals, to guide developers in setting and achieving meaningful objectives. This approach not only enhances individual productivity and well-being but also fosters a continuous improvement mindset across the team, leading to more effective and cohesive work practices.

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Wishing you all a week of achieved goals! Happy research Monday.

Lizzie