Modernity, universalism and asymmetries

Abstract

This paper is an invitation to reflect about SoftwareEngineering (SE) in what concerns the widely known “universal” models. However, such aninvitation can be extended to include a reflection about the great asymmetry between the FirstWorld, which centralizes the scientific and technological development, that is, the SE “universal”models, and peripheral countries, apparently granted the role of consumers of such models. Tomake this invitation attractive, the paper is based on one specific Brazilian case – that of a publiccorporation – because its problems and solutions, as recognized and proposed by local SE alongthe 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, repeat the same problems and solutions as identified by North-American SE 20 years before.

Keywords: sociotechnical approach, software engineering.