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GDSD AND AGILE PROCESSES

GDSD AND AGILE PROCESSES

Olga Sowinska, Jhon Barreiro, Nafiz Utku

Contents

• Flexible and distributed software processes: Old petunias in new bowls?

• Ambidextrous coping strategies in GDS development projects.

• Agility in globally distributed system development.

• Can distributed software development be agile?

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FLEXIBLE AND DISTRIBUTED SOFTWARE

PROCESSES

FLEXIBLE AND DISTRIBUTED SOFTWARE

PROCESSESOLD PETUNIAS IN NEW BOWLS?

Jhon Barreiro

Introduction

• What is GSD

• Why GSD?

• Advantages/Disadvantages of GSD

• Problems encountered in software development

• Flexible processes: Agile methods

• Advantages of Agile Methods

• Agile and GSD

• What experts have to say

Problems in software development

• Software delivered late and out of budget

• Software do not meet customer needs

• Software cannot be used

• Despite many examples of good practices, there is still lack of professionalism in software engineering that could even be dangerous in safety-critical systems. http://www.PublicTechnology.net

• One of the problems with cutting-edge software is that it is hard to visualise what the system will do

What is GSD?

• Defined as “software work undertaken at geographically separated locations across national boundaries in a coordinated fashion involving real time (synchronous) and asynchronous interaction”. Sahay (UiO)

• Involves communication for information exchange.

• Involves coordination of groups, activities and artifacts so they contribute to the overall objective.

• Involves control of groups (adhering to goals and policies) and artifacts (quality, visibility & management).

Why GSD?

• Globalization and turbulent business environments, Two factors that create significant challenges for software organizations today.

• In the wake of the IT downturn, many organizations have turned to GSD in their quest for the silver bullet of high quality software delivered cheaply and quickly.

Benefits of GSD

• Improvements in time-to-market efficiency and access to greater--and less costly--resources

• Solves local IT Shortage issues

• Most are attracted by the lower costs

Cons of GSD

• Communication: time differences makes it difficult to communicate properly

• Coordination

• Control issues

• Increased geographical distance can often increase temporal distance and socio-cultural distance

Flexible Processes

• Software process flexibility, concerns the current trend in software development to move from traditional plan-based approaches, as suggested by mainstream software engineering and information systems research, towards more agile approaches.

What is Agile?

• Agile software development is a conceptual framework for software engineering that promotes development iterations throughout the life-cycle of the project.

• There are many agile development methods; most minimize risk by developing software in short amounts of time.

• Software developed during one unit of time is referred to as an iteration, which may last from one to four weeks

wikipedia.org

Benefits of agile methods

• Higher quality software

• Improved control of a project

• Reduced dependence on individuals and increased flexibility

• Early detection and cancellation of failing products

wikipedia.org

Sample agile methods• XP (Extreme Programming)

Pitched as: Addressing “the specific needs of software development conducted by small teams in the face of vague or changing requirements”

• SCRUM (as in Rugby), first described by Takeuchi and Nonaka in 1986Pitched as: "Management and control process that cuts through complexity"

• DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Method)Pitched as: “A framework of controls and best practice for rapid application development”

• Crystal OrangePitched as: A method to run “a cooperative game of invention and communication, with a primary goal of delivery useful working software and a secondary goal of setting up for the next game”

What experts have to say?

• David Parnas: “The problem is poor documentation and poor communication”

• Barry Bohem: “The problem is not documentation, the problem lies when we try to apply a “one-fits-all solution” The best way is to use risk as a way to determine where to go agile or document-driven”

• Matthew Simons: “Parnas is right, Pure agile development with little or no documentation beyond code is impractical and inefficient”

Ambidextrous coping strategies

in globally distributed software development projects

Olga Sowinska

Strategies for enhancing flexibilityand rigor

• Geographic distance

• Time separation

• Cultural differences

• Language differences

• Organizational boundaries

• Functional boundaries

Barriers for global software teams

Study

• 22 globally distributed software projects

• Analyzed

• Inputs

• Global boundaries and barriers

• Processes

• Task processes - communication - coordination

• software quality

• On time / within budget completion

Study

• 22 globally distributed software projects analyzed

Inputs

• Global boundaries and barriers

• Processes

• Task processes - communication - coordination

• software quality

• On time / within budget completion

Outputs

Coping strategies for GDSD

• Timing

• Initiation Phase

• Task - common platform

• shared domain / application knowledge

• common task process

• common task context and work environment

• people - labour organization

• minimized task dependencies

• Redundant roles / point persons

Coping strategies for GDSD• Technology - technology readiness

• technology infrastructure

• integrated project management tool

• portfolio of collaboration tools

• Execution phase

• Task - doing more

• more and continuous communication

• extended work hours / shifts

• more and detailed commun ication

• tight project control

• people - labour organization

• minimized task dependencies

• Redundant roles / point persons

Coping strategies for GDSD

• People - awareness / teamwork

• team awareness

• task awareness

• Technology - adaptive use of technology

• broad usage

• evolutionary usage

Findings

• Successful globally distributed software development required not only flexibility / agility but also rigor / discipline in order to sope with complex challenges of global projects.

3 principles:

• Teams need to build a foundation for future flexibility in global software development

• Effective global software teams flexibly deploy coping strategies as needed during the execution phase of projects

• Successful global software teams also exhibit disciplined adherence to the agreed-upon strategies and processes.

Agility in Globally Distributed Systems

Development

Nafiz Utku

Two challenges in development and deployment of GSD

• Development perspective - the complexities of coordination, communication, culture and technology creates challenges due to disparate composition of teams in dispersed geographic locations.

• Deployment perspective firms need to cater for local requirements of the sites spanning the activities of the global business.

Two challenges in development and deployment of GSD

• GDSD agility requires the ability of IS Development and deployment methods to swiftly adapt to the changing business requirements.

• This will allow firms to rapidly develop and tap into emerging business opportunities in geographically dispersed locations.

Three independent components of agility in GSD projects

• Agile IT strategy

• Agile IT infrastructure

• Agile project management

Agile project management:4 skill sets in GSD context

• System localization

• 2-Task division and coordination

• 3-partnership management

• 4-decentralised knowledge management skills

Generic guidelines to achieve GDSD ability

• Develop strategic coherence between global business objectives and IT Systems Development and deployment strategies.

• Update and acquire knowledge on new technologies

• Standardise IT platform through modularization

• Utilise local components and expertise, yet keep to global standards.

• Clearly define rules and responsibilities of each local site in GDSP project.

• Develop good version control systems components.

• Understand the interdependant relationship of IT Strategy, IT Structure and project management to achive optimal agility during GDSD process.

Can distributed software development be agile?

Jhon Barreiro

Some thoughts

• Global sourcing and distributed software development have become a common business reality

• Dynamic business environment requires organisations to develop and evolve software systems at internet speed

GSD and agile are different

• Agile and distributed processes differ significantly in their key tenets

• Agile mainly relies on informal processes

• Tacit Knowledge

• Puts a large premium to face-to-face communication

• Accommodates change due to volatile requirements

• Distributed software processes relies on formal processes

• Rigorous planning

• Formal communication

Challenges in GSD and Agile

• Communication need vs communication independenceDSD relies on detailed architectural design and plan (communication need)Agile relies more on informal interaction than explicit communication (communication independence)

• People vs Process oriented controlIn DSD control is achieved by formal processes. Agile environments are more people oriented.

• Formal vs informal agreementContracts in agile are loosely and informally defined. DSD relies on explicit targets, milestones and detailed specs.

• Lack of team cohesionIn DSD, participants at different sites are less likely to perceive themselves as part of a team. In agile, participants are co-located (good for processes such as XP)

Challenges in GSD and Agile

• Communication is by far the most important aspect

• “Agile methods can rely heavily on frequent, regular contact and involvement with the client.” Hugh Basset-Jones,Senior Web Systems Developer,University of Winchester

• “Sometimes clients do not know what they really want, hence the need for keeping involved in the development process"Matt RenyardWeb Systems DeveloperUniversity of Winchester

Three organisations studied

• Telco, Manco and Consult

• Have software development operations in India and the U.S.

• Agree that it is possible to use agile in GSD environment

The balancing act

• Continuously adjust the processSkeptical of agile development that does not include adequate upfront design, Manco and Consult devoted the first three iterations to finalize critical requirements and develop a high level architecture.

• Facilitate knowledge sharingRather than rely on informal means for project tracking and monitoring, Manco and Telco developed a database to help teams report issues, assign priorities and track project status. However, in the spirit of an Agile process, only minimal documentation was created.

• Improve communicationUsing Short Message Service (SMS) and Online chats extensively

• Build trustFrequent visits by distributed partners, regular visits by customers or surrogates (product managers) with the development team

• Trust but verifySupplementing informal communication with documentation of critical artifacts.

Conclusion

• Definitely old petunias in new bowls

• Software crisis is rather a ‘Chronic’ problem

• Careful incorporation of agility in DSD environments is essential in addressing several challenges to communication, control, and trust across distributed teams.

Questions?

References

• www.cs.cmu.edu/~rajesh/papers/fse07.pdf

• www.wikipedia.org

• http://agilesoftwaredevelopment.com/

• http://www.csis.ul.ie/staff/paragerfalk/CFP_FDSDP_HICSS39.htm