An experimental investigation of time delays in software project staffing
By: Michael John Bosley
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1994
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 71
Description: Failing software development projects are plaguing the Department of Defense and other Federal service agencies today. Compounding this fact, the complexity of today's software projects makes it extremely difficult to isolate the underlying problem areas. The System Dynamic Model (SDM), a quantitative tool that simulates software development life cycles, enables us to investigate these problem areas as well as many other pertinent areas. It allows the isolation and manipulation of management variables allowing analysis which in turn leads to a better understanding of the effects variables have on projects. This thereby presents an opportunity to suggest solutions. This thesis uses this System Dynamic Model's gaming interface to investigate the effects of time delays on software project management. Specifically, this experiment focuses on how software project managers compensate for assimilation and hiring delays inherent to a single project environment. The effect of these delays are measured in terms of staffing level decisions, final cost, and project completion.
Notes: Thesis advisor(s): Tarek K. Hamid.

"June 1994."

Thesis (M.S. in Information Technology Management) Naval Postgraduate School, June 1994.

Includes bibliographical references.

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

US Coast Guard (USCG) author.