RE: Economics of software development?

STEURS Stefan <[email protected]> Tue, 14 Jan 2003 09:34:46 +0100
Newsgroups gmane.comp.programming.extreme-customering
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I am only aware of the Barry Boehm TRW reports on factors influencing
software engineering (I don't believe the process makes that much of a
difference, the key enabler was getting the best people which could change
your producivity by 400%) and some reports that appeared in IEEE Software a
very long time ago, and if I remember well (which I doubt ;-) ) process and
methodology had an influence of maximum 40%, again coming to the conclusion
that the influence of getting the right people is much more important than
anything else.
 
This doesn't mean to me that process and methodology are not important as
enablers, they probably are, but getting the best out of the people you have
is perhaps more important and should come first.
 
Motivated people don't seem to fail ... that was another statement made in
another IEEE article once.  I don't know the context exactly but in an
interview someone said "We succeeded because we didn't know how to fail." or
something along those lines.
 
I see changes in process and methodology more as enablers to motivate people
than really making a difference.  Having some kind of a process/approach
that all participants can believe in and share seems to be more important to
me than whatever this process is.  I see very little differences between
different processes anyway.  When referring to XP I see one big difference
which is pair programming but I think a process emphasising inspections and
reviews can achieve the same, perhaps better, results.  Also the test first
design is quite interesting but I think the value of testing is
over-estimated (and that coming from a man who's heart and soul is in
software testing).
 
Economic models of IT investment are also interesting.  What was the
productivity gain measured from introducing office automation?  Something
along the lines of 1%?
 
Regards, Stefan Steurs.

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Walton [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 4:17 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [XC] Economics of software development?


There's a recent thread on the XP list about XP being taught at the
university undergraduate level in the CS / IS curriculum.  Is anyone aware
of any courses in the Business schools (either undergrad or graduate) re:
either comparing the economics of various approaches to software development
or discussing economic models of IT investment within a business?  Thanks.
 
Bill
 
 

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<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I am 
only aware of the Barry Boehm TRW reports on factors influencing software 
engineering (I don't believe the process makes that much of a difference, the 
key enabler was getting the best people which could change your producivity by 
400%) and some reports that appeared in IEEE Software a very long time ago, and 
if I remember well (which I doubt ;-) ) process and methodology had an influence 
of maximum 40%, again coming to the conclusion that the influence of getting the 
right people is much more important than anything else.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>This 
doesn't mean to me that process and methodology are not important as enablers, 
they probably are, but getting the best out of the people you have is perhaps 
more important and should come first.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
size=2>Motivated people don't seem to fail ... that was another statement made 
in another IEEE article once.&nbsp; I don't know the context exactly but in an 
interview someone said "We succeeded because we didn't know how to fail." or 
something along those lines.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I see 
changes in process and methodology more as enablers to motivate people than 
really making a difference.&nbsp; Having some kind of a process/approach that 
all participants can believe in and share seems to be more important to me than 
whatever this process is.&nbsp; I see very little differences between different 
processes anyway.&nbsp; When referring to XP I see one big difference which is 
pair programming but I think a process emphasising inspections and reviews can 
achieve the same, perhaps better, results.&nbsp; Also the test first design is 
quite interesting but I think the value of testing is over-estimated (and that 
coming from a man who's heart and soul is in software 
testing).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
size=2>Economic models of IT investment are also interesting.&nbsp; What was the 
productivity gain measured from introducing office automation?&nbsp; Something 
along the lines of 1%?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190122608-14012003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
size=2>Regards, Stefan Steurs.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE 
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid">
  <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma 
  size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Bill Walton 
  [mailto:[email protected]]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, January 13, 2003 4:17 
  PM<BR><B>To:</B> [email protected]<BR><B>Subject:</B> [XC] 
  Economics of software development?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=Arial>There's a recent thread on the XP list about XP being 
  taught at the university undergraduate level in the CS / IS curriculum.&nbsp; 
  Is anyone aware of any courses in the Business schools (either undergrad or 
  graduate) re: either comparing the economics&nbsp;of various approaches to 
  software development or discussing economic models of IT investment within a 
  business?&nbsp; Thanks.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Bill</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV><BR><BR><TT>To 
  unsubscribe from this group, send an email 
  to:<BR>extremecustomering-unsubscribe-hHKSG33TihhbjbujkaE4pw@public.gmane.org<BR><BR></TT><BR><BR><TT>Your 
  use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the <A 
  href="http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/">Yahoo! Terms of Service</A>.</TT> 
<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE=3><BR>
<BR>
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 <BR>
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