Uma proposta de recomendações para onboarding remoto em organizações de desenvolvimento de software

Abstract

In the software industry, there has been a significant shift from in-person work to remote or hybrid models due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This required organizations to adapt their work formats. The transition to virtual work had a notable impact on recruiting, onboarding, and training new hires, leading to the concept of “remote onboarding” or “vir- tual onboarding”. This refers to the process of integrating new employees who are working remotely, involving all stages and interactions through digital platforms and tools. This work proposes a set of recommendations for this specific context of onboarding. To achieve this, a Systematic Mapping Study was conducted, resulting in the selection of 23 primary studies. Key findings include the observation that the onboarding process is context-sensitive, affected by factors such as the work model and development methodologies. We also discovered a lack of studies assessing the feasibility of different models and tools. These results were complemen- ted by a qualitative study conducted through interviews with 20 professionals involved in the onboarding process in software development organizations. The results revealed some impor- tant conclusions: First, most organizations have institutionalized onboarding processes to some extent. Second, there is a distinct separation between technical and organizational onboarding, with organizational onboarding tending to be more standardized. Third, the main challenges identified fall into categories related to learning, communication, and personal aspects. Finally, the primary facilitator of the onboarding process is the development of a supportive and col- laborative organizational culture. Based on the conclusions drawn from both studies, a guide of recommendations for remote onboarding was proposed, featuring practical and adaptable guidelines that include specific suggestions for learning activities, socialization, trust-building, and collaborative practices and technologies that can be employed to remotely integrate new employees in software development organizations.