Soft Computing and Machine Intelligence

Institute of Information Science and Technology (정보과학기술연구소)
권호 표지

Effect of Human Related Factors on Requirements Change Management in Offshore Software Development Outsourcing: A theoretical framework

  • Mehmood, Faisal (School of information and communication engineering, Zhengzhou University) ;
  • Zulfqar, Sukana (Department of Computer science, Govt. Post Graduate College of Science)
  • Published : 2021.06.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Software development organizations are globalizing their development activities increasingly due to strategic and economic gains. Global software development (GSD) is an intricate concept, and various challenges are associated with it, specifically related to the software requirement change management Process (RCM). This research aims to identify humans' related success factors (HSFs) and human-related challenges (HCHs) that could influence the RCM process in GSD organizations and propose a theoretical framework of the identified factors concerning RCM process implementation. The Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method was adopted to investigate the HSFs and HCHs. Using the SLR approach, a total of 10 SFs and 10 CHs were identified. The study also reported the critical success factors (HCSFs) and critical challenges (HCCHs) for RCM process implementation following the factors having a frequency 50% as critical. Our results reveal that five out of ten HSFs and 4 out of ten HCHs are critical for RCM process implementation in GSD. Finally, we have developed a theoretical framework based on the identified factors that indicated a relationship among the identified factors and the implementation of the RCM process in the context of GSD. We believe that the results of this research can help tackle the complications associated with the RCM in GSD environment, which is vigorous to the success and progression of GSD organizations.

Keywords

References

  1. Jayatilleke, S.; Lai, R. A systematic review of requirements change management. Information and Software Technology 2018, 93, 163-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2017.09.004
  2. Strens, M.; Sugden, R. Change analysis: a step towards meeting the challenge of changing requirements. Proceedings IEEE symposium and workshop on engineering of computer-based systems. IEEE, 1996, pp. 278-283.
  3. Tomyim, J.; Pohthong, A. Requirements change management based on object-oriented software engineering with unified modeling language. 2016 7th IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering and Service Science (ICSESS). IEEE, 2016, pp. 7-10.
  4. Nurmuliani, N.; Zowghi, D.; Fowell, S. Analysis of Requirements Volatility during Software Development Lifecycle", in the proceeding of Australian Software Engineering Conference 2004.
  5. Niazi, M.; El-Attar, M.; Usma, M.; Ikram, N. GlobReq: A framework for improving requirements engineering in global software development projects: Preliminary results 2012.
  6. Khatoon, A.; Motla, Y.H.; Azeem, M.; Naz, H.; Nazir, S. Requirement change management for global software development using ontology. 2013 IEEE 9th International Conference on Emerging Technologies (ICET). IEEE, 2013, pp. 1-6.
  7. Ramasubbu, N. Governing software process improvementsin globally distributed product development. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 2013, 40, 235-250. https://doi.org/10.1109/TSE.2013.58
  8. Minhas, N.M.; Zulfiqar, A.; others. An improved framework for requirement change management in global software development. Journal of Software Engineering and Applications 2014, 2014.
  9. Khan, S.U.; Niazi, M.; Ahmad, R. Barriers in the selection of offshore software development outsourcing vendors: An exploratory study using a systematic literature review. Information and Software Technology 2011, 53, 693-706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2010.08.003
  10. Niazi, M.; Hickman, C.; Ahmad, R.; Babar, M.A. A model for requirements change management: Implementation of CMMI level 2 specific practice. International Conference on Product Focused Software Process Improvement. Springer, 2008, pp. 143-157.
  11. Zhu, J.; Liang, Y.; Gu, Y. The requirements change analysis for different level users. 2008 International Symposium on Intelligent Information Technology Application Workshops. IEEE, 2008, pp. 987-989.
  12. Khan, A.A.; Basri, S.; Dominic, P. A propose framework for requirement change management in global software development. 2012 International Conference on Computer & Information Science (ICCIS). IEEE, 2012, Vol. 2, pp. 944-947.
  13. Lai, R.; Ali, N. A requirements management method for global software development. AIS: Advances in Information Sciences 2013, 1, 38-58.
  14. Sinha, V.; Sengupta, B.; Chandra, S. Enabling collaboration in distributed requirements management. IEEE software 2006, 23, 52-61. https://doi.org/10.1109/MS.2006.123
  15. Bhatti, M.W.; Hayat, F.; Ehsan, N.; Ishaque, A.; Ahmed, S.; Mirza, E. A methodology to manage the changing requirements of a software project. 2010 International Conference on Computer Information Systems and Industrial Management Applications (CISIM). IEEE, 2010, pp. 319-322.
  16. Kumar, S.A.; Kumar, T.A. Study the impact of requirements management characteristics in global software development projects: an ontology based approach. International Journal of Software Engineering & Applications 2011, 2, 107. https://doi.org/10.5121/ijsea.2011.2410
  17. Ramzan, S.; Ikram, N. Requirement change management process models: Activities, artifacts and roles. 2006 IEEE International Multitopic Conference. IEEE, 2006, pp. 219-223.
  18. Khan, S.U.; Azeem, M.I. Intercultural challenges in offshore software development outsourcing relationships: an exploratory study using a systematic literature review. IET software 2014, 8, 161-173. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-sen.2013.0012
  19. Kitchenham, B.; Charters, S. Guidelines for performing systematic literature reviews in software engineering 2007.
  20. Chen, L.; Babar, M.A.; Zhang, H. Towards an evidence-based understanding of electronic data sources. 14th International Conference on Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineering (EASE), 2010, pp. 1-4.
  21. Khan, A.A.; Keung, J. Systematic review of success factors and barriers for software process improvement in global software development. IET software 2016, 10, 125-135. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-sen.2015.0038
  22. Afzal, W.; Torkar, R.; Feldt, R. A systematic review of search-based testing for non-functional system properties. Information and Software Technology 2009, 51, 957-976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2008.12.005
  23. Niazi, M.; Wilson, D.; Zowghi, D. Critical success factors for software process improvement implementation: an empirical study. Software Process: Improvement and Practice 2006, 11, 193-211. https://doi.org/10.1002/spip.261
  24. Lock, S.; Kotonya, G.; others. An integrated, probabilistic framework for requirement change impact analysis. Australasian Journal of Information Systems 1999, 6.
  25. Lavazza, L.; Valetto, G. Enhancing requirements and change management through process modelling and measurement. Proceedings Fourth International Conference on Requirements Engineering. ICRE 2000.(Cat. No. 98TB100219). IEEE, 2000, pp. 106-115.
  26. Khan, A.A.; Keung, J.; Niazi, M.; Hussain, S.; Ahmad, A. Systematic literature review and empirical investigation of barriers to process improvement in global software development: Client-vendor perspective. Information and Software Technology 2017, 87, 180-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2017.03.006
  27. Khan, S.U.; Niazi, M.; Ahmad, R. Factors influencing clients in the selection of offshore software outsourcing vendors: An exploratory study using a systematic literature review. Journal of systems and software 2011, 84, 686-699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2010.12.010
  28. Jallow, A.K.; Demian, P.; Baldwin, A.; Anumba, C.J. Development of an innovative framework for clients' requirements information management in construction projects 2010.
  29. Williams, B.J.; Carver, J.; Vaughn, R.B. Change Risk Assessment: Understanding Risks Involved in Changing Software Requirements. Software Engineering Research and Practice, 2006, pp. 966-971.
  30. Damian, D.E.; Zowghi, D. RE challenges in multi-site software development organisations. Requirements engineering 2003, 8, 149-160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00766-003-0173-1
  31. Ebert, C.; De Man, J. Requirements uncertainty: influencing factors and concrete improvements. Proceedings of the 27th international conference on Software engineering, 2005, pp. 553-560.
  32. Firesmith, D. Common Requirements Problems, Their Negative Consequences, and the Industry Best Practices to Help Solve Them. J. Object Technol. 2007, 6, 17-33. https://doi.org/10.5381/jot.2007.6.1.c2
  33. Goknil, A.; Kurtev, I.; Van Den Berg, K.; Spijkerman, W. Change impact analysis for requirements: A metamodeling approach. Information and Software Technology 2014, 56, 950-972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2014.03.002
  34. Hussain, W.; Zowghi, D.; Clear, T.; MacDonell, S.; Blincoe, K. Managing requirements change the informal way: When saying 'no'is not an option. 2016 IEEE 24th International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE). IEEE, 2016, pp. 126-135.
  35. Kobayashi, A.; Maekawa, M. Need-based requirements change management. Proceedings. Eighth Annual IEEE International Conference and Workshop On the Engineering of Computer-Based Systems-ECBS 2001, 2001, pp. 171-178. doi:10.1109/ECBS.2001.922419.
  36. Mathiassen, L.; Saarinen, T.; Tuunanen, T.; Rossi, M.; others. Managing requirements engineering risks: an analysis and synthesis of the literature 2004.
  37. Massacci, F.; Paci, F.; Tedeschi, A.; others. Assessing a requirements evolution approach: Empirical studies in the air traffic management domain. Journal of Systems and Software 2014, 95, 70-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.11.1098
  38. Mu, K.; Jin, Z. Identifying acceptable common proposals for handling inconsistent software requirements. International Conference on Formal Techniques for Networked and Distributed Systems. Springer, 2007, pp. 296-308.
  39. Aranda, G.N.; Vizcaino, A.; Cechich, A.; Piattini, M. Strategies to minimize problems in global requirements elicitation. CLEI electronic journal 2008, 11.
  40. Ghosh, S.; Ramaswamy, S.; Jetley, R.P. Towards requirements change decision support. 2013 20th Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference (APSEC). IEEE, 2013, Vol. 1, pp. 148-155.
  41. McGee, S.; Greer, D. Towards an understanding of the causes and effects of software requirements change: two case studies. Requirements Engineering 2012, 17, 133-155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00766-012-0149-0
  42. Ahmed, H.; Hussain, A.; Baharom, F. Current challenges of requirement change management. Journal of Telecommunication, Electronic and Computer Engineering 2016, 8, 173-176.
  43. Eckhardt, J.; Vogelsang, A.; Fernandez, D.M. On the distinction of functional and quality requirements in practice. International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement. Springer, 2016, pp. 31-47.
  44. Baladi, Z.H.; Al-Qarni, S.A. Scholars Journal of Economics, Business and Management 2020.
  45. Mavin, A.; Wilkinson, P.; Teufl, S.; Femmer, H.; Eckhardt, J.; Mund, J. Does goal-oriented requirements engineering achieve its goal? 2017 IEEE 25th International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE). IEEE, 2017, pp. 174-183.
  46. Khan, A.A.; Keung, J.; Hussain, S.; Bennin, K.E. Effects of geographical, socio-cultural and temporal distances on communication in global software development during requirements change management a pilot study. 2015 International Conference on Evaluation of Novel Approaches to Software Engineering (ENASE). IEEE, 2015, pp. 159-168.
  47. Ali, N.; Lai, R. A method of software requirements specification and validation for global software development. Requirements Engineering 2017, 22, 191-214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00766-015-0240-4
  48. Khan, A.A.; Basri, S.; Dominc, P. A proposed framework for communication risks during RCM in GSD. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 2014, 129, 496-503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.706