Software development practices, software complexity, and software maintenance performance: a field study
Article Abstract:
A two-stage theoretical framework that supports software complexity as an important intermediate factor which associates design and development decisions to their downstream effects on software maintenance is described. The study also tested whether development practices related to software maintenance can be determined within a practical time period by evaluating their influences on software complexity. The software maintenance performance model analyzed the effects of software complexity on maintenance project efforts, application size, quality, and project team experience. Moreover, the use of code generators and packaged software were evaluated in relation to improved software quality and reduced maintenance costs.
Publication Name: Management Science
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0025-1909
Year: 1998
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A field study of scale economies in software maintenance
Article Abstract:
Several software enhancement programs being implemented at a large financial service institution are examined to determine the relationship between software maintenance productivity and the size of the program or project. In particular, the functional relationship between maintenance inputs and outputs as well as the project's return to scale are examined using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and DEA-based statistical tests, respectively. Results show that the institution can achieve economies of scale in software maintenance by batching together large and small projects. However, managers in the said institution have failed to take advantage of this issue due to the opportunity costs incurred by batching.
Publication Name: Management Science
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0025-1909
Year: 1997
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