Navigating the Socio-Technical Complexity Challenge in Quantum Software Ecosystems

2026-07-16

AI Summary

This study addresses the challenge faced by practitioners in navigating the highly heterogeneous and rapidly evolving quantum software ecosystem, which lacks systematic guidance for technology selection. Drawing on the design science research paradigm and integrating perspectives from quantum software engineering, organizational theory, and sociotechnical systems, this work proposes an evaluation framework comprising three core components: “gravity wells,” “gravity well attributes,” and “sociotechnical desiderata.” By systematically incorporating sociotechnical theory into quantum software ecosystem decision-making for the first time, the framework enables practitioners to make forward-looking, context-sensitive technology choices while preserving architectural flexibility. Empirical validation through canonical case studies demonstrates its dual contribution of theoretical novelty and practical utility.

Abstract

Quantum computing environments are composed of heterogeneous layers spanning hardware, software development kits, and applications. Practitioners curating these environments face a fragmented and rapidly evolving landscape with few principled guides for navigation. This paper presents a framework for evaluating quantum computing environment choices through a socio-technical lens, developed using Design Science Research methodology. Drawing on the quantum software engineering literature as well as organizational and socio-technical research, the framework introduces three analytical constructs: gravity wells and their properties, which characterize how certain technologies and structural conditions exert increasing pull on surrounding environment choices, and socio-technical desiderata, which articulate the normative goals against which those pulls can be evaluated. The framework supports practitioners in making deliberate, context-aware environment choices that preserve architectural flexibility and support the evolutionary development of the field. Demonstration and evaluation of the framework is conducted through exemplary cases. The contribution advances both the theory of quantum ecosystems and the practical guidance available to organizations and practitioners navigating the current, evolving field of quantum computing.

Problem

• quantum computing
• socio-technical complexity
• software ecosystems
• environment choice
• quantum software engineering

Innovation

• socio-technical framework
• quantum software ecosystems
• gravity wells
• design science research
• architectural flexibility