Evaluation of Determinants of Software Quality in Offshored Software Projects

Successful offshoring engagements of Indian software vendors is increasingly dependent upon the quality of the projects delivered rather than cost considerations. However, delivering quality software is reliant on effective management of various organizational, technological and people aspects. This research is to identify and evaluate the determinants of quality on software projects delivered by vendors through offshoring. Data related to recently completed projects were collected through a survey of 440 project managers from Indian vendors. Based on structural equation modeling, the authors analyze the influence determinants on specific product quality attributes. It is found that, out of six determinants, technical infrastructure and process maturity have significant influence on most of the attributes of quality in offshored IS projects from India. The authors provide a set of implications for practice and directions for further research.

Why Business Digitalization Is Still So Risky

Due to rapid IT advances and escalated globalization, business digitalization has been accelerating. However, the average success rate of such endevors remains low. As an attempt to reveal why the digital transformation of a business is still so risky, this research analyzes how commonly encountered risks in IS projects are responded to and how the responses affect project outcomes. Resulting from the authors' previous work, they hypothesize that information systems are much more complex as they play an increasingly pivotal role in executing most business functions, and subsequently, the risk pattern of IS projects may have evolved, and that as businesses keep adding more information systems to the enterprise infrastructure, rather than via a piecemeal approach, a framework for enterprise-wide digital integration must be established to guide and evaluate business digitalization. The finding from this research should largely validate their hypotheses and allow them to call for a refocus of the efforts on digitalizing an enterprise.

INITIATING INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS (IS) NETWORKS IN SRI LANKA: INSIGHTS FROM GLOBAL PROJECTS

Industrial symbiosis (IS) is an ideal initiative for co-located industries to gain a competitive advantage through physical exchange of materials, energy, water, and by-products within a closed loop industrial system. IS has been created a considerable impact on the environmental and economic development through water savings, reduction of raw material extraction and carbon emissions reductions. As many developing countries are suffering from the environmental degradation due to industrial operations, initiating IS networks is vital to improve the business and environmental performance of industries. Since it is a novel concept, it is important to examine the insights from global IS projects to foresee the future challenges. Thus, in this study, PESTEL framework is employed to examine the impact of political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal external factors on global IS projects. The secondary data collected from nine global IS projects were analysed using PESTEL analysis. The analysis clearly describes the several facets that could influence on industries deploying the IS networks, such as the pressure made by government, external parties, collective cost and environmental benefits, infrastructure sharing, social benefits, and influence made by laws and regulations. Accordingly, a PESTEL framework is developed, which provides a firm base to foresee the possible future changes, challenges and opportunities that can be effectively considered in strategic business decisions for deploying IS networks in Sri Lanka.

Measuring Information Systems Project Complexity: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Complexity has emerged as the new norm in the 21st century, and IS projects play a significant role in organisations to address various socio-political concerns. The purpose of this paper is to understand what are the relevant constructs for measuring IS project complexity. A model for measuring IS project complexity is developed using PLS-SEM. The model reveals that organisational complexity, technical complexity, and uncertainty underpin IS project complexity. Organisational complexity in terms of project team, stakeholder management, and strategic drive should be managed by the project manager. Technical complexity was established in terms of project goals, requirements management, technology management, and norms and standards. Uncertainty in IS projects exists in terms of skills management, the triple constraint, and activity management. Suggestions were provided to guide IS project managers on how to manage each construct and alleviate the level of project complexity. This paper presents an updated and different perspective on measuring and managing IS project complexity. The findings would serve as additional building blocks to further elucidate IS project complexity understanding and assist with improving the value of these projects. Furthermore, the suggestions for IS project managers can lead discussions around how IS projects should be managed to ensure complexity is under control.

Design, New Media, and Human-Computer Interactions

In higher education design-oriented programs, collaborations with industry can be challenging to establish because of the time demands and work priories of professionals working in the field. Education should foster these relationships to enhance the overall educational experience for students. A common form of collaboration is projects in which students are given “real-world” design problems for which they propose a solution. These types of endeavors are very much practice-based and can be especially valuable in digital media and interactive design academic programs. When education partners with industry on such practice-based projects, education can add value and potentially help sustain these collaborations by ensuring that student methods and solutions are rooted in theory and call upon the rich research and theoretical bases of these disciplines. This chapter reviews approaches that educators can use to enhance educational projects with industry partners and ultimately enrich student learning outcomes.

Use of the Benefits Management Methodology in an Insurance Company

The benefits management methodology is a complementary analysis technique to traditional project management practices. It dynamically evaluates the benefits associated with the implementation of an information system (IS), including all phases from planning to monitoring, both during and after the implementation. This article presents a case study of the application of the Cranfield School of Management's benefits management technique as it is applied to an insurance company. It identifies and quantifies the underlying benefits of IS implementation, organizational and structural changes, and alignment with the organization's strategy. The data was collected through analysis of secondary documents and interviews with insurance company employees. The main contribution of this article is to demonstrate the versatility of the Cranfield School of Management's technique during the study of IS projects. It provides a graphical visualization of the dependencies between all elements of the network.

The Impact of Organization’s Dynamic Capabilities on Information Systems Project’s Success in the Jordanian Telecommunication Sector

Information Systems (IS) ecosystems change rapidly which makes IS projects’ success challenging. Project success eventually impacts organizational competitive advantage which is a major concern for telecommunication organizations. dynamic capabilities (DC) are needed for organizations to continually transfer, shift and reallocate their organizational capabilities according to the dynamic changes occur in the surrounding ecosystem. This paper aims at investigating the impact of organizational dynamic capabilities (DC) on IS project success in telecommunication organizations in Jordan. A survey is used as an instrument of research in order to achieve the research’s main objectives. The study is carried out by surveying (233) employees who participated in IS projects. The survey paragraphs are validated and approved by a panel of experts. Consequently, data extracted from the questionnaire is statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and AMOS applications. The findings reveal that employees in telecommunication organizations recognize and apply the concept of DC (Dynamic Capabilities) at a (High) level. Results also show that rate of IS projects success in telecommunication organizations in Jordan is (High). It also shows that DC along with its four main dimensions, contribute in all three dimensions of IS project, and that project capabilities play a major role mediating the impact of DC on IS project success. The study has several contributions on both academic and practical levels. For example, it links DC for becoming basis for software projects success.

Evaluation of Determinants of Software Quality in Offshored Software Projects

Successful offshoring engagements of Indian software vendors is increasingly dependent upon the quality of the projects delivered rather than cost considerations. However, delivering quality software is reliant on effective management of various organizational, technological and people aspects. This research is to identify and evaluate the determinants of quality on software projects delivered by vendors through offshoring. Data related to recently completed projects were collected through a survey of 440 project managers from Indian vendors. Based on structural equation modeling, the authors analyze the influence determinants on specific product quality attributes. It is found that, out of six determinants, technical infrastructure and process maturity have significant influence on most of the attributes of quality in offshored IS projects from India. The authors provide a set of implications for practice and directions for further research.

ISOPM

Information Systems (IS) and Information Technologies (IT) are fundamental elements for the competitiveness of organizations. Thus, an efficient development of IT/IS projects is a key factor for business success. Nowadays companies are increasingly outsourcing their activities, including the development of IT/IS projects. However, the results of investments often lead to frustration and are far from meeting the expectations. Bearing this in mind, this paper proposes a new framework – ISOPM – that identifies the most relevant activities for the IT/IS outsourcing projects management, aiming to contribute to the study and development of this specific area of project management.