a canvas for establishing global software development collaborations

A Canvas for Establishing Global Software A Canvas for Establishing Global Software Development CollaborationsDevelopment Collaborations

Druskininkai, ICIST 2104October 9, 2014

Inna Smirnova, Jürgen Münch, Michael Stupperich

University of Helsinki, Dept. of Computer Science, Finland Daimler Research & Development, Ulm, Germany

Study motivationStudy motivation

“Many companies start global software engineering to benefit from cheaper, faster and better development

of software systems, products and services”

40% of offshore software development projects fail2 out of 5 global project teams show poor performance

Study motivation

2Inna Smirnova, Jürgen Münch, Michael Stupperich : Global collaborations

D. Šmite, C. Wohlin, T. Gorschek and R. Feldt, Empirical evidence in global software engineering: a systematic review.

Empirical Software Engineering, 15(1), 2010, pp. 91-118.

How can companies overcome global software development (GSD) challenges and benefit from

global collaborations?

Many scientific papers and experiences available:– risk-oriented– focus on specific areas of GSD, e.g. trust, communication– isolated, unconnected advices

Study motivation (2)

3

An overall holistic approach that guides companies effectively in setting up long-

term global software development collaborations is needed

Inna Smirnova, Jürgen Münch, Michael Stupperich : Global collaborations

MethodologyMethodology

• Input from industry: collaboration with the automotive OEM “Daimler AG” – data from project leaders were elicited via interviews

and company-internal workshops• Literature review:

- Snowballing approach- Systematic analysis of papers from major topic-relevant conferences (ICGSE, SEAFOOD)

““Global canvas” Global canvas” guidance for

establishing GSD collaborations

Methodology


PhasesPhases of global collaborations

1. Initiate: Identify benefits of transition towards GSD; choose collaboration model & partners

2. Plan and Prepare: establish the conditions needed for starting the global collaboration

3. Pilot: test systematically practices for setting up global collaborations; detect problems

4. Operate and Improve: overall operation is ongoing, learning, continuous improvement

Building up the “Global canvas”- Elements: Phases


AspectsAspects to consider when establishing global software development collaborations

Strategy Collaboration structure

Product structure

Development process

Coordination

Infrastructure

Social aspects

Communication

Organizational change process

Building up the “Global canvas”- Elements: Aspects


PracticesPractices of global software development collaborations

Strategy Collaboration goals

Collaboration model

Foreign legal system Vendors

Budget plan

Collaboration structure General task distribution Organizational structure and peer-to-peer links

Product structure Product ownership and architecture

Product-based work distribution

Development process

Development process model

Coordination Project management

Project control

Infrastructure Compatibility

Tools

Social aspects Trust

Cultural understanding

Communication Communication tools

Relationships

Communication protocol

Team awareness

Common knowledge base


Improvement cycles

Standardization

Building up the “Global canvas”- Element: Practices


Objectives: description, main purpose of the practice –

Why is it important to consider?

Potential results and experiences: What can be achieved with the practice?

Pros and Cons

Actions: How to conduct the practice? necessary steps and

actions, alternatives

Successful practices: structureSuccessful practices: structure

Building up the “Global canvas”- Successful practices


Objectives: How to do the collaboration? According to what scenario? Where to?

Practice Example: Collaboration ModelPractice Example: Collaboration Model

Building up the “Global canvas”- Successful practices (2)


Scenario A: Offshore outsourcing

consuming of resources and development services from an

external 3rd party situated abroad

•client-subcontractor relationships

Scenario B: Offshore insourcing

consuming of internal organizational resources

situated abroad

•product customization and localization

Possible Collaboration Scenarios: Pros and Possible Collaboration Scenarios: Pros and ConsCons

Building up the “Global canvas”- Successful practices (3)

10

Scenario A Scenario B


+might reduce development costs+speeding up software development process+worldwide expertise-domain training and knowledge sharing-lack of corporate spirit-requirements clarification and system integration- risk of loosing areas of core competence

+peer-to-peer partnership+corporate spirit +motivation+shared know-how and responsibility +access to new technologies and markets-knowledge sharing-need of compatible infrastructure-trust and social ties building

Strategy Collaboration goals

Collaboration model

Foreign legal system

Vendors

Budget plan

Collaboration structure General task distribution

Organizational structure and peer-to-peer links

Product structure Product ownership and architecture

Product-based work distribution

Communication Communication tools

Relationships

Communication protocol

Team awareness

Common knowledge base

Development process

Development process model

Coordination Project management

Project control

1a

1b

1c

1d

Phases: Initiate Plan and Prepare Pilot Operate and Improve

2a2b

2c

2d

2e

2f2g

3b

3g

3h


Improvement cycles

Standardization

Infrastructure Compatibility

Tools

Social aspects Trust

Cultural understanding

3c

3d

3e

3f

4a

4b

Building up the “Global canvas”- “Global canvas” visualization

11

1e

3a

3i


Future workFuture work

• Mature and complete validation of the canvas based on industry applications

• Analysis of the dependencies between different practices and strategies

• Analysis of other potential use cases of the canvas besides guidance and assessment scheme

Future work


SummarySummary

• When setting up global collaborations varieties of aspects, challenges, and different strategies need to be considered

• A holistic overview to setting up global collaborations is missing

• “Global canvas” – provides a practical guide and a reminder for organizations about activities that need to be performed when setting up global collaborations

Summary


ReferenceReference

• Inna Smirnova, Jürgen Münch, Michael Stupperich. A Canvas for Establishing Global Software Development Collaborations. In Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Information and Software Technologies (ICIST 2014), volume 465 of CCIS, pages 73-93. Springer-Verlag, 2014.– Springer version: bit.ly/global_canvas

– Author version: http://bit.ly/globalcanvas

Reference


a canvas for establishing global software development collaborations

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