Global Software Development Handbook

by Sangwan; Raghvinder S.

• ISBN13: 9780849393846
• ISBN10: 0849393841
• Edition: CD
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-09-29
• Publisher: Auerbach Public

Summary

Economics and technology have dramatically re-shaped the landscape of software development. It is no longer uncommon to find a software development team dispersed across countries or continents. Geographically distributed development challenges the ability to clearly communicate, enforce standards, ensure quality levels, and coordinate tasks. Global Software Development Handbook explores techniques that can bridge distances, create cohesion, promote quality, and strengthen lines of communication.The book introduces techniques proven successful at international electronics and software giant Siemens AG. It shows how this multinational uses a high-level process framework that balances agility and discipline for globally distributed software development. The authors delineate an organizational structure that not only fosters team building, but also achieves effective collaboration among the central and satellite teams. The handbook explores the issues surrounding quality and the processes required to realize quality in a distributed environment. Communication is a tremendous challenge, especially for teams separated by several time zones, and the authors elucidate how to uncover patterns of communication among these teams to determine effective strategies for managing communication.The authors analyze successful and failed projects and apply this information to how a project can be successful with distributed teams. They also provide lightweight processes that can be dynamically adapted to the demands of any project.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xiii
Foreword	p. xvii
Preface	p. xix
Acknowledgments	p. xxiii
About the Authors	p. xxv
Glossary	p. xxvii
Abbreviations List	p. xxix
Introduction
Motivation	p. 3
What is Global Software Development (GSD)?	p. 3
Challenges to Global Software Development	p. 4
Managing Global Software Development	p. 6
Summary and Conclusions	p. 7
Discussion Questions	p. 7
References	p. 7
Critical Success Factors for Global Software Development	p. 9
Issues	p. 10
Critical Success Factors	p. 10
Reduce Ambiguity	p. 10
Maximize Stability	p. 11
Understand Dependencies	p. 12
Facilitate Coordination	p. 13
Balance Flexibility and Rigidity	p. 13
A Process Framework	p. 14
Development Phases and Decision Points	p. 16
Summary and Conclusions	p. 19
Discussion Questions	p. 19
References	p. 20
Planning
Requirements Engineering	p. 23
Background	p. 24
Change Management	p. 24
Quality Assurance (QA)	p. 25
Impact on Related Processes	p. 25
Requirements Engineering Process	p. 25
Elicitation	p. 26
Participants	p. 27
Modeling	p. 27
Participants	p. 31
Requirements Review	p. 32
Participants	p. 33
Tooling	p. 33
Phasing	p. 34
Summary and Conclusions	p. 35
Discussion Questions	p. 35
References	p. 36
Requirements for the Architecture	p. 37
Background	p. 38
How Does an Architecture Relate to the Business Goals?	p. 38
What Influences an Architecture?	p. 40
What Information Does an Architect Need?	p. 40
What is the Influence of GSD on the Architecture?	p. 41
Architecturally Significant Requirements	p. 42
Elicitation	p. 42
ASR Workshop	p. 43
Participants	p. 47
Follow-On Activities	p. 48
Documentation	p. 49
Summary and Conclusions	p. 50
Discussion Questions	p. 50
References	p. 50
Architecture	p. 51
Background	p. 52
Accounting for Quality Attribute Requirements	p. 52
Accounting for the Organizational Structure	p. 53
Making Architectural Trade-Offs	p. 53
Designing the System	p. 54
Define Work Units	p. 55
Participants	p. 56
Identify Module Responsibilities	p. 56
Participants	p. 58
Analyze Dependencies	p. 58
Participants	p. 60
Identify Critical Paths	p. 60
Participants	p. 61
Document the Architecture	p. 61
Execution Views	p. 61
Implementation Views	p. 62
Traceability between the Various Views	p. 63
Review the Architecture	p. 63
Summary and Conclusions	p. 64
Discussion Questions	p. 64
References	p. 65
Risk Analysis	p. 67
Background	p. 68
What is a Risk?	p. 68
The Risk Life Cycle	p. 69
Risks in a GSD Context	p. 69
Coordination	p. 69
Architectural Alignment	p. 71
Uncertainty and Change	p. 72
Managing Risk in GSD Projects	p. 73
Risk Identification	p. 73
Determining the Coordination Capability	p. 74
Participants	p. 74
Inputs	p. 75
Outputs	p. 75
Mitigating Risks	p. 75
Increasing Organizational Capabilities	p. 75
Contingency Planning	p. 76
Monitoring Risks	p. 76
Summary	p. 77
Discussion Questions	p. 77
References	p. 78
Project Planning Process	p. 79
Project Planning: An Overview	p. 79
Feature Release Planning	p. 81
Participants	p. 82
Development Planning	p. 83
Participants	p. 85
Cost Estimation	p. 85
Phasing of the Planning Effort	p. 86
Planning during the Inception Phase	p. 86
Planning during the Elaboration Phase	p. 89
Planning during the Construction Phase	p. 89
Summary and Conclusions	p. 90
Discussion Questions	p. 90
References	p. 91
Project Estimation	p. 93
Top-Down Estimation Approach	p. 94
Who is Involved in This Activity?	p. 95
What are the Inputs and Outputs?	p. 95
Global Development Assertion	p. 96
Size	p. 98
Effort	p. 99
Schedule	p. 100
Top-Down Estimation Steps	p. 100
Bottom-Up Estimate	p. 103
Estimation Tools	p. 106
Summary and Conclusions	p. 106
Discussion Questions	p. 107
References	p. 107
Organization Structure
Software Development Teams	p. 111
Structure of a GSD Project	p. 112
Roles and Responsibilities	p. 117
Size	p. 120
Summary and Conclusions	p. 120
Discussion Questions	p. 121
References	p. 121
Supplier Manager	p. 123
Roles and Responsibilities	p. 124
Desired Skills	p. 126
Organizational Models	p. 129
Intercultural Issues	p. 131
Summary and Conclusions	p. 132
Discussion Questions	p. 133
References	p. 133
Monitoring and Control
Quality Assurance	p. 137
Background	p. 137
QA in a Global Context	p. 138
Measuring Process Quality	p. 140
Defining Processes	p. 140
Defining Measures	p. 140
Improving Processes	p. 142
Measuring Product Quality	p. 142
Defect Types	p. 142
Issues with Product Quality in a GSD Context	p. 143
Strategies for Maintaining Quality in a GSD Context	p. 143
Product Maintenance	p. 144
Product Maintenance in a Global Context	p. 145
Need for Long-Term Relationship	p. 145
Strategies for Fostering Cordial Relations	p. 146
Affiliation of Suppliers to the Central Organization	p. 148
Summary and Conclusions	p. 148
Discussion Questions	p. 148
References	p. 149
Infrastructure Support for Global Software Development	p. 151
Criteria for Selecting the Infrastructure	p. 152
Accessibility	p. 152
Collaboration and Concurrenc	p. 152
Processes	p. 153
Awareness and Integration	p. 153
Communication and Coordination	p. 154
Communication and Collaboration Strategy	p. 154
Communication and Collaboration Infrastructure	p. 155
Mailing Lists for E-Mails	p. 155
Infrastructure for Weekly Meetings	p. 155
Discussion Forums for Interactive Discussions and Queries	p. 156
Defect Tracking and Change Management	p. 157
Knowledge Management: Software Design, Models, and Documentation	p. 157
Selecting the Knowledge Management Infrastructure	p. 159
Knowledge Management Infrastructure	p. 160
Software Configuration Management	p. 162
Selecting the Software Configuration Management Infrastructure	p. 163
The Software Configuration Management Infrastructure	p. 163
Integration and Build Management	p. 163
SCM Processes to Facilitate Global Software Development	p. 164
Well-Defined Tasks	p. 165
Exclusive Areas of Responsibility	p. 165
Summary and Conclusions	p. 167
Discussion Questions	p. 168
References	p. 168
Communication	p. 169
Communication Drivers	p. 170
Communication Barriers	p. 171
Communication and Coordination	p. 173
Communication and Control	p. 175
Social Network Analysis	p. 176
Summary and Conclusions	p. 179
Discussion Questions	p. 179
References	p. 180
Case Studies
GSP 2005	p. 183
The MSLite Project	p. 184
Challenges Faced during First Year of MSLite's Development	p. 185
Approach for the Second Year of MSLite's Development	p. 187
Process	p. 187
Collaboration, Communication, and Knowledge Management	p. 190
Requirements	p. 192
Architecture and Design	p. 194
Technical	p. 194
Strategic Issues: Planning and Control	p. 195
Work Allocation	p. 195
Project Planning and Control	p. 197
Quality Assurance	p. 199
Training	p. 200
Current Status of the MSLite Development Effort	p. 201
Next Steps for MSLite	p. 201
References	p. 202
DPS2000	p. 203
Background	p. 203
Global Analysis	p. 204
Design Strategies	p. 205
DPS2000 Architecture	p. 205
Project Planning	p. 205
Project Management	p. 206
Lessons Learned	p. 207
Summary	p. 209
References	p. 210
FS2000	p. 211
Requirements for the New Enterprise	p. 211
Scaling the Development Process	p. 212
The Architecture	p. 214
Restructuring the Organization	p. 214
Achieving Integration	p. 215
Lessons Learned	p. 216
Summary	p. 217
BAS	p. 219
Background	p. 219
Global Analysis	p. 220
BAS Architecture	p. 221
Project Planning	p. 222
Project Management	p. 222
Lessons Learned	p. 223
Summary	p. 226
References	p. 226
Concluding Remarks
Conclusions	p. 229
Issues in Globally Distributed Development	p. 229
Recipe for Success	p. 231
Sharing Best Practices	p. 233
Summary and Conclusions	p. 234
References	p. 235
Index	p. 239
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