Managing software developing projects

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1 Example project

1.1.1 Project organisation

2. Problem definition

2.1 Introduction to software development

2.1.1 The nature of software

2.1.2 Development process

2.1.3 General problems of software development

2.2 Goal of the thesis

3. Management

3.1 General Management

3.1.1 Strategy

3.1.2 Structure

3.1.3 Culture

3.2 Effective Management

3.2.1 Principles

3.2.2 Tasks

3.2.3 Tools

3.2.4 Applicability

4. Team

4.1 Viable System Model

4.1.1 Application to software development

4.1.2 Applicability

4.2 X-Teams

4.2.1 Application to software development

4.2.2 X-Teams compared to VSM

4.2.3 Applicability

5. Customer

5.1 Customer involvement

5.1.1 Eliciting requirements

5.1.2 Customer Reviews

5.1.3 Testing

5.1.4 Design and modelling

5.2 Clear business objectives

5.3 Change management

5.4 Support of senior management

6. Evaluation

6.1 Approach

6.2 Rating

6.2.1 Management

6.2.2 Team

6.2.3 Customer

6.3 Results

7. Conclusions

7.1 Possible weaknesses of evaluation

7.2 Possible project improvements

8. References

Objectives and Research Themes

The primary objective of this thesis is to define effective software management practices that extend beyond traditional development models and project management methodologies. It focuses on identifying critical success factors by analyzing stakeholder roles—specifically management, team, and customer—and evaluating an example ERP project based on these dimensions.

• Application of the General Management Model (Malik) to software development
• Team structure analysis using the Viable System Model (VSM) and X-Team theory
• Examination of customer involvement strategies and requirement elicitation
• Evaluation of change management processes in IT project environments
• Assessment of project performance based on organizational effectiveness and management tools

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Presents the context of modern IT in business, the rationale for individual software development, and introduces the specific ERP project used for evaluation.

2. Problem definition: Analyzes the challenges inherent in software development, such as estimation difficulties and changing requirements, and outlines the thesis goals.

3. Management: Applies the St. Gallen General Management Model and Malik’s effective management principles to the specific needs of software project leadership.

4. Team: Investigates team structures and functions using the Viable System Model (VSM) and the X-Team theory to optimize software development team dynamics.

5. Customer: Discusses the necessity of customer involvement, requirement elicitation, and the support of senior management for successful software project outcomes.

6. Evaluation: Details the practical assessment of the example ERP project based on the theoretical frameworks of management, team structure, and customer relations.

7. Conclusions: Reviews potential evaluation limitations and suggests actionable improvements for the observed IT department.

8. References: Provides the academic and industry sources used to ground the research findings.

Keywords

Software development, project management, ERP, stakeholder analysis, General Management Model, Viable System Model, X-Teams, customer involvement, requirement elicitation, change management, innovation management, organizational structure, performance evaluation, software engineering, strategic management

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The work focuses on identifying success factors for managing software projects that go beyond simple development models and traditional project management.

What are the primary themes discussed in the thesis?

The key themes are management strategy, structural organization of teams, the role of the customer, and effective software project evaluation.

What is the main goal of the thesis?

The objective is to establish a definition of effective software management by analyzing the specific roles and requirements of the project management, development teams, and the customer.

Which scientific methods are utilized?

The research utilizes a stakeholder analysis and applies management frameworks such as the St. Gallen General Management Model, the Viable System Model, and X-Team theory to evaluate an actual ERP project.

What is covered in the main body of the work?

The main body examines management principles, team modeling (VSM and X-Teams), and the importance of customer integration (e.g., requirement elicitation, change management).

Which keywords best characterize the work?

The work is best defined by terms like software development, project management, stakeholder analysis, Viable System Model, and customer involvement.

How does the VSM help in the context of software projects?

The VSM is used to model the organizational functions of a development team, helping to identify how to manage operational and strategic tasks effectively.

Why is customer involvement considered critical in this thesis?

The thesis argues that because software is an individual product tailored to the customer's needs, active involvement is essential for requirement accuracy and project success.

What are the limitations of the evaluation presented?

The author notes that the evaluation is based on a single, personal perspective and uses an arithmetic mean which may lead to central tendency in the final results.