A Multi-Criteria Model for Planning and Fine-Tuning Global Agile Software Development Projects

Abstract

Inter-organizational Global Software Development (GSD) has become a common reality for many projects. It is well established that distance makes difficult to interact and to cooperate effectively. Scrum, a consolidated Agile methodology, emphasizes communication, reduces coordination and control overhead and has been increasingly used in a distributed fashion. Successfully planning and managing the combined use of GSD and Scrum is a complex task and requires carefully planning. Despite the importance and complexity of this type of problem, there seems to be a lack of reports, in the literature, of models that could support managers dealing with these decision contexts. This paper presents a multi-criteria decision model for planning and fine-tuning such project plans. This model was developed using cognitive mapping and MACBETH (Bana e Costa, Sanchez-Lopez, Vansnick, & De Corte, 2011). The application of the model is demonstrated, followed by conclusion and future work.

Methodological framework for the allocation of work packages in global software development

“…, Fernandez and Basavaraju , da Silva , Almeida et al . and Leal et al . can be considered also good antecedents on the research area.…”

An MCDA-C application to evaluate supply chain performance

“…The origins of the MCDA-C date back more than 200 years, but its formulation as a scientific management instrument occurred in the 1990s in the work of Roy and Vanderpooten (1996), Landry (1995) and Keeney (1992), amongst others. Its application can be especially useful to support decision making in complex, conflicting and uncertain environments (Almeida et al, 2011(Almeida et al, , 2012, 2014Bana e Costa and Oliveira, 2012;Bana e Costa and Silva, 2008;Bana e Costa, 2007;Belton and Stewart, 2002;Canedo and Almeida, 2008;Ensslin et al, 2000;Montibeller et al, 2007;Mota et al, 2009;Phillips and Bana e Costa, 2007;Pinheiro et al, 2008;Ramos et al, 2007;Soares de Mello et al, 2002. Contexts are complex when they are influenced by multiple criteria that may be perceived in completely different ways by the actors involved.…”

“…One can also cite the use of measurement scales that are inappropriate, according to the principles of the measurement theory, to the type of mathematical operations applied in their integration (Barzilai, 2001;Keeney, 1992). Finally, there is also a lack of structured processes for diagnosing and improving the current situation; such improvements can advance the decision makers' understanding of the consequences of their decisions for the criteria they deem important (Almeida et al, 2011(Almeida et al, , 2012, 2014Bana e Costa and Oliveira, 2012;Bana e Costa and Silva, 2008;Bana e Costa, 2007;Belton and Stewart, 2002;Ensslin et al, 2010;Montibeller et al, 2007;Phillips and Bana e Costa, 2007;Pinheiro et al, 2008;Ramos et al, 2007;Soares de Mello et al, 2002.…”