Issues of intellectual capital and intellectual property in educational software development teams

Abstract

Developing educational software requires a complex environment and a range of specialised skills. The ideas that lie behind successful software are drawn from a broad pool of talent and, as mobility increases, ideas are disseminated through informal and new work practices into a wider community. This paper addresses how participants in the development process can receive appropriate acknowledgement for their contribution, even after leaving a project. It will identify team dependencies and highlight three channels for dissemination (publication, portfolio and product). Eight common myths relating to intellectual capital and intellectual property in relation to educational software development are explored. Finally, practices that can be applied to the software development process to ensure that all team members receive appropriate recognition for their contribution to the product are identified. In particular, emphasis is placed on the need for strong project management practices and the up front articulation of expectations.