A Structured Approach to Global Software Development

The analysis of the combined results from three independent industry focused case studies, undertaken in the area of distributed software development over a period of eight years, has resulted in the identification of ten key factors. These ten factors have been utilised as the basis for the development of the GSD Implementation Model. The objective of the creation and presentation of this model is to provide a practical and systematic approach to address the key activities, infrastructure and support which are required to facilitate effective distributed software development. This approach is inspired by the IDEAL model and divided into five specific phases which are classified as Initiating, Provisioning, Establishing, Managing and Leveraging. The goal of the Initiating phase is to clearly determine why, if and how the distributed development strategy is to be selected and undertaken. The implementation of the Provisioning phase is to ensure that the required infrastructure, processes and support to facilitate successful distributed software development are identified and put in place. The focus of the Establishing phase is to ensure that the development teams are effectively established. The managing phase addresses the day to day requirements of operating efficiently in a distributed environment. The Leveraging phase concentrates on the need to ensure that the structures and procedures are in place so that lessons learned can be documented and leveraged in existing and future projects.