Patent ID: 8448129

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of a processor utilizing computer systems that are physically associated with respective workstations associated with design centers, assembly lines and job shops across multiple software factory configurations of a global delivery network, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by hardware logic associated with a first Software Factory, a signal indicating that a work packet has arrived at a first design center of the first Software Factory, wherein the work packet is a self-contained work unit that is assembled with other work packets by a first assembly line and job shop within the first Software Factory to create a customized deliverable unit of software, wherein each work packet constitutes a contractual agreement that governs a relationship among a design center, a software factory governance board, a software factory operations unit, and an assembly line and job shop in the software factory, wherein the design center breaks a software project into major functional areas, wherein the software factory governance board determines whether or not to allow the software factory to accept the software project, wherein the software factory operations unit dispatches the software project to the assembly line, wherein the assembly line and job shop receive and execute work packets that are specified by the design center to create the customized deliverable unit of software, and wherein said each work packet further comprises an exit criteria, wherein the exit criteria is a checklist for returning said each work packet from the assembly line and job shop to the software factory operations unit and for returning the customized deliverable unit of software from a customer to the software factory; examining descriptors appended to the work packet to determine if the work packet is authorized to be reassigned from the first design center to a second design center, wherein the first design center is contractually responsible for designing the work packet, wherein the descriptors include a description of final deliverable that will be generated by the software factory, and wherein descriptors appended to the work packet serve as an indicator in determining whether a completed work packet from a previous project can be authorized to be reused by another project; in response to determining that the work packet is authorized for reassignment to the second design center, determining if the second design center is qualified to work on the work packet; and in response to determining that the second design center is qualified to work on the work packet, reassigning the work packet to the second design center.