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Understanding How Software Project Managers Learn Using Kolb's Learning Style Inventory
Entendiendo cómo aprenden los gestores de proyectos de software mediante el inventario de estilos de aprendizaje de Kolb
Keywords:
Software Engineering Education, Project Managers, Continuing Education, Learning Styles, Kolb's Learning Styles Inventory (en)Educación para la Ingeniería de Software, Gestores de Proyecto, Educación Continua, Estilos de Aprendizaje, Inventario de estilos de aprendizaje de Kolb (es)
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Teaching project managers involves conveying complex concepts in an accessible manner while fostering strategic thinking and promoting problem-solving skills using specific methodologies. Additionally, continuing education requires techniques for meaningful learning that balance theory with practice and build upon professional experience. However, unlike other software development roles, little is understood about how software project managers (SPMs) can learn effectively. Therefore, this research aimed to identify teaching techniques that better align with SPMs' learning styles. Kolb's learning styles test was administered to 27 project managers to determine their preferences in this regard. The surveyed SPMs leaned towards abstract conceptualization, exhibiting a balance between active experimentation and reflective observation, with the thinking style best reflecting these preferences. Building on this, some SPM-centered teaching guides were adapted from existing knowledge on teaching professionals with Kolb's thinking learning style.
Enseñar a los gestores de proyectos implica transmitir conceptos complejos de manera accesible, fomentando el pensamiento estratégico y promoviendo habilidades de resolución de problemas mediante metodologías específicas. Además, la educación continua requiere técnicas de aprendizaje significativo que brinden un balance entre la teoría y la práctica y construyan sobre la experiencia profesional. Sin embargo, a diferencia de otros roles en el desarrollo de software, existe un conocimiento limitado sobre la manera en que los gestores de proyecto de software (SPMs) aprenden de manera efectiva. Por ende, esta investigación tuvo como objetivo identificar las técnicas de enseñanza que mejor se alineen con los estilos de aprendizaje de los SPMs. Se aplicó la prueba de estilos de aprendizaje de Kolb a 27 gestores de proyecto para determinar sus preferencias en este aspecto. Los SPMs encuestados se inclinaron hacia la conceptualización abstracta, presentando un balance entre la experimentación activa y la observación reflexiva. El estilo thinking fue el que mejor representó estas preferencias. Con base en esto se adaptaron algunas guías de enseñanza centradas en SPMs a partir del conocimiento existente sobre la enseñanza para profesionales con el estilo de aprendizaje thinking de Kolb.
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Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
Grant numbers PIIC-USM 062/2023
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mauricio Hidalgo, Laura M. Castro, Hernán Astudillo
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