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Enabling Software Development Team Performance During Requirements Definition: A Behavioral Versus Technical Approach

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  • Patricia J. Guinan

    (Babson College, Babson Park, Massachusetts 02157)

  • Jay G. Cooprider

    (175 Forest Street, Morrison Building, Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts 02154)

  • Samer Faraj

    (Van Munching Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-1851)

Abstract

As software development projects continue to be over budget and behind schedule, researchers continue to look for ways to improve the likelihood of project success. In this research we juxtapose two different views of what influences software development team performance during the requirements development phase. In an examination of 66 teams from 15 companies we found that team skill, managerial involvement, and little variance in team experience enable more effective team processes than do software development tools and methods. Further, we found that development teams exhibit both positive and negative boundary-spanning behaviors. Team members promote and champion their projects to the outside environment, which is considered valuable by project stakeholders. They also, however, guard themselves from their environments; keeping important information a secret from stakeholders negatively predicts performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia J. Guinan & Jay G. Cooprider & Samer Faraj, 1998. "Enabling Software Development Team Performance During Requirements Definition: A Behavioral Versus Technical Approach," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 9(2), pages 101-125, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:9:y:1998:i:2:p:101-125
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.9.2.101
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Natalia Levina, 2005. "Collaborating on Multiparty Information Systems Development Projects: A Collective Reflection-in-Action View," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 16(2), pages 109-130, June.
    3. Aga, Deribe Assefa, 2016. "Factors affecting the success of development projects : A behavioral perspective," Other publications TiSEM 867ae95e-d53d-4a68-ad46-6, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    4. Smita Prashant Chattopadhyay & Madhuchhanda Das Aundhe, 2021. "Vendor boundary spanning in Indian Information Technology (IT) companies," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 1139-1177, September.
    5. Krishnaswamy N. & Selvarasu A., 2016. "Exploring interrelationship between three performance indicators with PMI’s Nine Knowledge Areas for successful Project Management," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 6(3), pages 1162-1162.
    6. Mähring, Magnus, 2002. "IT Project Governance: A Process-Oriented Study of Organizational Control and Executive Involvement," SSE/EFI Working Paper Series in Business Administration 2002:15, Stockholm School of Economics.
    7. Alan R. Dennis & Lionel P. Robert & Aaron M. Curtis & Stacy T. Kowalczyk & Bryan K. Hasty, 2012. "Research Note ---Trust Is in the Eye of the Beholder: A Vignette Study of Postevent Behavioral Controls' Effects on Individual Trust in Virtual Teams," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 23(2), pages 546-558, June.
    8. Samer Faraj & Lee Sproull, 2000. "Coordinating Expertise in Software Development Teams," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(12), pages 1554-1568, December.
    9. Henrik Bresman, 2010. "External Learning Activities and Team Performance: A Multimethod Field Study," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(1), pages 81-96, February.
    10. Likoebe M. Maruping & Viswanath Venkatesh & Ritu Agarwal, 2009. "A Control Theory Perspective on Agile Methodology Use and Changing User Requirements," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 377-399, September.
    11. Krüger, Fabio, 2023. "Impact of Team Agility on Team Effectiveness: The Role of Shared Mental Models, Team Empowerment, and Team Reflexivity," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 8(1), pages 123-147.
    12. Nikhil K. Mehta & Sumi Jha & Som Sekhar Bhattacharyya, 2024. "Explicating Collective Technology Efficacy in Work from Home Context: Study of Employees with Positive Feelings," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 12(2), pages 194-207, April.
    13. Rajiv Sabherwal & Anand Jeyaraj & Charles Chowa, 2006. "Information System Success: Individual and Organizational Determinants," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(12), pages 1849-1864, December.
    14. Laurie J. Kirsch & V. Sambamurthy & Dong-Gil Ko & Russell L. Purvis, 2002. "Controlling Information Systems Development Projects: The View from the Client," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 48(4), pages 484-498, April.
    15. Haberstroh, Martin & Wolf, Joachim, 2005. "Individuelle Autonomie in Projektteams," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 585, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.
    16. Jaime B. Windeler & Likoebe Maruping & Viswanath Venkatesh, 2017. "Technical Systems Development Risk Factors: The Role of Empowering Leadership in Lowering Developers’ Stress," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 775-796, December.
    17. Hung, Yu Wen & Hsu, Shih-Chieh & Su, Zhi-Yuan & Huang, Hsieh-Hong, 2014. "Countering user risk in information system development projects," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 533-545.
    18. Yuhyung Shin & Mihee Kim & Won-Moo Hur, 2019. "Interteam Cooperation and Competition and Boundary Activities: The Cross-Level Mediation of Team Goal Orientations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-24, July.
    19. Anandasivam Gopal & Konduru Sivaramakrishnan & M. S. Krishnan & Tridas Mukhopadhyay, 2003. "Contracts in Offshore Software Development: An Empirical Analysis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(12), pages 1671-1683, December.

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