TY - GEN
T1 - An optimal coordination method for software development
AU - Xu, Suxiu
AU - Li, Zhuoxin
AU - Lu, Qiang
AU - Li, Gang
AU - Huang, Li
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The problem of coordinating activities while developing large software systems is challenging. In this paper, we formulate a quantitative coordination model to analyze the optimal management policy for incremental software development. Then we develop an effective solution procedure with polynomial complexity to solve the model. Numerical studies show: (1) too large a team size is counter-productive resulting intensive communication overhead; (2) higher level of product structural complexity and communication efficiency favor more development cycles; (3) higher changeover costs and tighter schedule compression discourage more development cycles; (4) communication efficiency has no great impact on the optimal coordination policy but induces great overhead; (5) the optimal number of modules released reveals a U-shape characteristic. Case study shows that communication costs, module integration costs and system integration costs can be greatly reduced through the use of an optimal coordination policy.
AB - The problem of coordinating activities while developing large software systems is challenging. In this paper, we formulate a quantitative coordination model to analyze the optimal management policy for incremental software development. Then we develop an effective solution procedure with polynomial complexity to solve the model. Numerical studies show: (1) too large a team size is counter-productive resulting intensive communication overhead; (2) higher level of product structural complexity and communication efficiency favor more development cycles; (3) higher changeover costs and tighter schedule compression discourage more development cycles; (4) communication efficiency has no great impact on the optimal coordination policy but induces great overhead; (5) the optimal number of modules released reveals a U-shape characteristic. Case study shows that communication costs, module integration costs and system integration costs can be greatly reduced through the use of an optimal coordination policy.
KW - Coordination theory
KW - Incremental development
KW - Software project management
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/77949498844
U2 - 10.1109/IEEM.2009.5373259
DO - 10.1109/IEEM.2009.5373259
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:77949498844
SN - 9781424448708
T3 - IEEM 2009 - IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management
SP - 623
EP - 627
BT - IEEM 2009 - IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management
T2 - IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, IEEM 2009
Y2 - 8 December 2009 through 11 December 2009
ER -
