Evaluation model for assessing the effectiveness of coordination processes in global software development projects

Abstract

Effective coordination is a crucial aspect in successful Global Software Development (GSD) projects. Limited studies have examined coordination strategies and their related indicators. Therefore, this study focuses on assessing the coordination processes that require specific strategies and related indicators that can contribute to effective coordination. This study used qualitative design in formulating the evaluation model for assessing the effectiveness of coordination processes in GSD projects. Four research objectives were examined. The first objective is to identify the coordination strategies and related indicators for assessing the coordination processes for GSD projects based on systematic review, with the results of 31 coordination strategies and 116 indicators. The second objective is to identify the coordination strategies and related indicators for assessing the coordination processes for GSD projects based on interviews with 20 GSD practitioners, with the results of 28 coordination strategies and 96 indicators. The third research objective is to formulate an Evaluation Model to assess the effectiveness of coordination processes in GSD projects based on the identified coordination strategies and related indicators. The findings from the literature and GSD practitioners were consolidated using Grounded Theory and validated further by 5 GSD experts from industries using the Delphi Technique. From this, 36 coordination strategies and 167 indicators were finalized. An Evaluation Model for assessing the effectiveness of coordination processes in GSD projects was then formulated. The fourth research objective is to evaluate the proposed Evaluation Model in the GSD environment. The proposed model was evaluated with 12 different projects involving six successful projects and six failure projects from the GSD environment using case studies. Two different types of analysis were used: descriptive and statistical. Descriptive analysis shows that the final indicators do help to accomplish the effectiveness to underpin GSD project success. Statistical analysis using a t-test indicates that the proposed model is significant (pvalue= 0.01), which interprets that the more number of indicators selected, the more likely the proposed model helps to accomplish the effectiveness towards GSD projects success. In conclusion, this research has contributed to providing the Evaluation Model for assessing the effectiveness of coordination processes in GSD projects. The model is useful for GSD project managers to assess the coordination processes in GSD projects. In addition, the model could help to facilitate coordination processes involved in GSD projects, in line with three bodies of knowledge, which are Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) under Software Process Assessment, Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) under Project Management Processes, and GSD Handbook under Facilitate Coordination.