Abstract
We present a study on how Pair Programming (PP) facilitates the introduction of new developers (novices) in a team. We analyzed the behavior of an industrial team of developers for 10 months focusing on spontaneous PP. During such time novices joined the team. Data has been collected non-invasively on how people paired during such time. Plots and sociograms are used to analyse such data and infer possible conclusions. It appears that initially PP is used to initiate the novices, then it is drastically reduced to be resumed eventually when the novices “feel” they have reached a significant level of maturity in the team.