Title: Management of software engineering

Authors: Peter Middleton

Addresses: School of Computer Science, The Queens University of Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK

Abstract: This paper examines the efficiency and effectiveness of a prescriptive systems development methodology in practice. The UK Government|s mandatory Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) was examined to determine its value to software projects. The evidence was collected from interviews with 17 project managers, discussions with participants on 3 large SSADM projects and from observing 90 end users in training. The conclusions are that prescriptive information systems methodologies are unlikely to cope well with strategic uncertainty, user communication or staff development. The recommendations are to focus more on soft organisational issues and to use approaches tailored to each project.

Keywords: information systems management; methodology; public sector; SSADM; project management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.1999.000201

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 1999 Vol.12 No.2/3/4/5, pp.174-180

Published online: 13 Jul 2003 *

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