Assessing Success Factors in Software Project Management for Global Software Development

Abstract

Global Software Development (GSD) has become a central aspect of software engineering, with many organizations adopting it to leverage the advantages of international collaboration, cost efficiency, and access to a global talent pool. However, managing software projects in a GSD context introduces unique challenges, such as communication barriers, cultural differences, time zone discrepancies, and coordination complexities. Traditional software project management practices often prove inadequate in addressing these challenges, leading to project impairments or failures. This paper investigates the critical success factors (CSFs) that influence the success of software project management within GSD settings. By applying multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, including the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the study develops a framework to identify and prioritize the most significant CSFs. The proposed model helps guide software project managers in effectively managing global projects by focusing on five key dimensions: Communication, Coordination, Human Resource Management, Technology, and Project Management. This research aims to enhance the understanding of the CSFs and provide valuable insights for improving the management and execution of GSD projects. The findings suggest that effective communication and coordination are paramount for the success of GSD projects, while other factors, such as technology, also play a crucial but relatively secondary role.