Navigating Decision-Making in Serverless Migration: A Socio-Technical Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract

Context: Serverless computing has revolutionized cloud comput- ing by enabling organizations to streamline workflows, dynamically scale operations, and eliminate the need to manage the underlying infrastructure. These promises led organizations to migrate their applications to serverless. However, the migration process is inher- ently complex, demanding significant architectural modifications and organizational restructuring. While existing research largely emphasizes the technical aspects of serverless computing such as improving cold start, it often overlooks the socio-technical and decision-making dimensions. Objective: This study aims to iden- tify and map the decision-making processes involved in serverless migration along technical, and organizational dimensions. Method: Using the Socio-Technical Grounded Theory (STGT), we analyzed 22 migration cases through 25 interviews with practitioners and insights from 31 blog posts. This approach offered a thorough and nuanced insight into stakeholder decision-making throughout the migration process. Results: The study identifies 29 key decision points categorized into procedural and outcome decisions. These include assessing technical feasibility, executing the technical mi- gration to serverless, and restructuring organizational processes to support the transition. Conclusions: The proposed decision- making framework provides practical guidance for organizations undertaking serverless migrations by integrating technical and human-centric perspectives. It emphasizes fostering stakeholder alignment, adopting iterative decision-making practices, and en- hancing organizational adaptability. The framework provides prac- titioners with a structured roadmap for successful transitions to serverless adoption by bridging these socio-technical dimensions