The Role of Humour in Software Engineering - A Preliminary Literature Review and Taxonomy

This project is about a comprehensive, literature review-based taxonomy exploring the characterisation and use of humour in software engineering (SE) teams, with the goal of boosting productivity, improving communication, and fostering a positive work environment while emphasising the responsible use of humour to mitigate its potential negative impacts.

Drawing from a wide array of studies in psychology, sociology, and organisational behaviour, our proposed framework categorises humour into distinct theories, styles, models, and scales, offering SE professionals and researchers a structured approach to understanding humour in their work.

This study also addresses the unique challenges of applying humour in SE, highlighting its potential benefits while acknowledging the need for further empirical validation in this context.

Ultimately, our study aims to pave the way for more cohesive, creative, and psychologically supportive SE environments through the strategic use of humour.

Project Lead

Dr Dulaji Hidellaarachchi

Project Team

Prof John Grundy, Prof Rashina Hoda

Humour and SE

Publication:

Hidellaarachchi, D., Grundy, J.C., Hoda, R. The Role of Humour in Software Engineering - A Literature Review and Preliminary Taxonomy, Journal of Systems and Software, vol. 230, December 2025 -- Final publication available at DOI Author pre-published version PDF