The goal of this thesis is to compare existing stakeholder engagement approaches and extend the existing solutions to the context of modernization projects to mitigate risks and conflicts within stakeholder groups working on modernization and improve shared understanding of all relevant stakeholders.

In our currently running project, we focus on modernization of legacy systems. The idea is to support stakeholders with the tools they need to make a decision on how to approach the modernization of the complex and often under-documented legacy system. The tools and decision strategies are to be developed in accordance with modern development principles.

Recent developments in stakeholder engagement show a rise in popularity of relational stakeholder analysis, which is characterized by the importance of understanding cooperative relationships and collaborative processes. However, although the research on modernization focuses on the identification of relevant stakeholders, it is not considering their engagement in the process.

To explore the space of modernization stakeholder engagement, we would like analyze the currently existing literature by means of a Scientific Literature Review (SLR) to answer the following questions:

1. Who are the potential stakeholders? What are their roles, what is their impact on the project?
2. What does stakeholder engagement mean in context of modernization?
   1. What are the activities involved in it?
   2. What are the influencing factors?
3. What are modernization stakeholders and which viewpoints do they represent? How to identify the attitude and power of stakeholders relevant to modernization projects?
   1. How to identify stakeholders (involved in the modernization project) needing additional power and provide them with it?
   2. How to engage stakeholders opposing the modernization project?
4. Which processes are there in legacy-related projects and how do they need to be adapted upon modernization?

Good to know

Apart from the knowledge of Software Engineering, this thesis requires specific Computer Science (especially Stakeholder Management), Finance (Cost and Benefit, Debt), and Psychology (Social Relations) knowledge. A good grade in Software Project Management course is beneficial, but not necessary.

Related literature

1. Stakeholder Engagement: Past, Present, and Future (analysis of 15 years of research papers on stakeholder engagement)

2. How do professionals perceive legacy systems and software modernization? (comparison of industry and science)

Co-supervisor: Michal Słupczyński