Software Engineering:

Challenges of Distributed Projects

Global Projects

Recall: “4 P’s of software engineering:

Project

People Process Product

What are the effects on People if team is not colocated?---communication ---collaboration ---coordination

Process must change to take these effects into account

Effects of physical distance on communication,Process modifications needed:

formal communicationdocumentsscheduled meetingsscheduled phone calls / email

informal communicationspontaneous phone calls / emailchance meetingstalking to colleagues in nearby offices….

What are effects of distance on collaboration? on coordination?

How adequate are communication technologies—web meetings, etc.?

Discussion: experiences with distributed software projects / tools used:--in coop positions--in this class or other classes

Global software development (“outsourcing”)

Teams located in different countries

What are pitfalls?

What are advantages?

Advantages of GSE:

“24 hour work day”

Products produced closer to market

Products can be modified for local conditions

Diversity of workers innovative ideas, products

…….?

Disadvantages of GSE:

Communication issues due to distance

Scheduling meetings

Maintaining requirements, module boundary definitions

Communication issues due to language

Communication issues due to culture

Sharing of proprietary data

Differing government regulations

Differences in pay, working conditions

…………..?

Discussion: What are some advantages / disadvantages of global software development for various stakeholders in the development process:

Advantages Disadvantages

Users

Customers

Employers

Employees

Discussion: What modifications in the development process are needed to deal with global projects?

Discussion: What ethical issues arise in the context of global software development? What could you do as a software professional or a private citizen to help deal with these issues?

Discussion: What does global software development mean to software professionals? Discussion: What might it mean to your own career?

Discussion: How can you prepare to participate fully in the global economy?