Showing papers by "Wayne W. Wakeland published in 2007"
TL;DR: The primary finding is that although under ideal assumptions follow-the-sun is able to produce impressive reductions in time-to-market, under more realistic assumptions the reverse is true, thus corroborating findings by other researchers and showing how the unique ability of the GSD model to represent detailed development processes and work artifact transfer allows researchers to address challenging questions that are critical to GSD project success.
Abstract: We describe a hybrid computer simulation model of the software development process that is specifically architected to study alternative ways to configure global software development (GSD) projects, including phase-based, module-based, and follow-the-sun allocation strategies. The model is a hybrid system dynamics and discrete-event model. In this paper, test cases have been developed for each allocation strategy, and project duration is computed for each configuration under a range of plausible assumptions for key parameters. The primary finding is that although under ideal assumptions follow-the-sun is able to produce impressive reductions in time-to-market, under more realistic assumptions the reverse is true, thus corroborating findings by other researchers. We also conducted a factorial design to examine the impact of GSD factors including distance, culture, language, trust, and time zone on project duration under different task allocation strategies. The analysis reveals that different factors affected the performance of the selected allocation strategies in unique ways. These findings show how the unique ability of our GSD model to represent detailed development processes and work artifact transfer allows researchers to address challenging questions that are critical to GSD project success. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
71 citations
15 Oct 2007
TL;DR: A hybrid simulation model of the software development process that is specifically architected to examine GSD projects is described and it is illustrated how project managers can use such model to support project planning and process improvement.
Abstract: Global software development (GSD) has become a dominant paradigm in the software industry. Conducting development projects in multiple countries offers many potential benefits including reduction in development cost and reduction in time-to-market especially trough the use of follow-the-sun strategy. However, GSD also poses challenges and difficulties due to geographic dispersion, time-zone differences as well as cultural and language differences. Thus, few GSD projects have been able to realize the full benefits of follow-the-sun development. This raises the question whether follow-the-sun strategy is the best way to pursue in order to reduce development time. What need to be done to ensure that the full benefits of follow-the-sun are achieved? In this paper, we described a hybrid simulation model of the software development process that is specifically architected to examine GSD projects. Then, we illustrated how project managers can use such model to support project planning and process improvement. We found that, in general, one should avoid using follow-the-sun strategy since it requires too much communication and coordination between sites, which resulted in higher effort and longer duration. If one is determined to use a follow-the-sun strategy, three development sites working in 24- hour cycle are needed in order to reduce cycle time.
29 citations
25 Mar 2007
TL;DR: This research created a hybrid simulation model by melding an agent-based model of acute local infection with a system dynamics model that reflects key systemic properties that will be needed to accomplish the ultimate objective of comprehensive in silico research platforms.
Abstract: The modeling of complex biological systems presents a significant challenge Central to this challenge is striking a balance between the degree of abstraction required to facilitate analysis and understanding, and the degree of comprehensiveness required for fidelity of the model to its reference-system It is likely necessary to utilize multiple modeling methods in order to achieve this balance Our research created a hybrid simulation model by melding an agent-based model of acute local infection with a system dynamics model that reflects key systemic properties The agent based model was originally developed to simulate global inflammation in response to injury or infection, and has been used to simulate clinical drug trials The long term objective is to develop models than can be scaled up to represent organ and system level phenomena such as multiple organ failure associated with severe sepsis The work described in this paper is an initial proof of concept of the ability to combine these two modeling methods into a hybrid model, the type of which will almost certainly be needed to accomplish the ultimate objective of comprehensive in silico research platforms
15 citations
TL;DR: The primary finding is that although under ideal assumptions follow-the-sun is able to produce impressive reductions in time-to-market, under more realistic assumptions the reverse is true, thus corroborating findings by other researchers and showing how the unique ability of the GSD model to represent detailed development processes and work artifact transfer allows researchers to address challenging questions that are critical to GSD project success.
Abstract: We describe a hybrid computer simulation model of the software development process that is specifically architected to study alternative ways to configure global software development (GSD) projects, including phase-based, module-based, and follow-the-sun allocation strategies. The model is a hybrid system dynamics and discrete-event model. In this paper, test cases have been developed for each allocation strategy, and project duration is computed for each configuration under a range of plausible assumptions for key parameters. The primary finding is that although under ideal assumptions follow-the-sun is able to produce impressive reductions in time-to-market, under more realistic assumptions the reverse is true, thus corroborating findings by other researchers. We also conducted a factorial design to examine the impact of GSD factors including distance, culture, language, trust, and time zone on project duration under different task allocation strategies. The analysis reveals that different factors affected the performance of the selected allocation strategies in unique ways. These findings show how the unique ability of our GSD model to represent detailed development processes and work artifact transfer allows researchers to address challenging questions that are critical to GSD project success. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
9 citations
01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured the accuracy of a fishery model that explicitly models the regulatory process and the resulting degree of compliance by fishers and found that although the fitness error for the enhanced model was significantly less than the prior model (23% vs. 38%), predictions were improved only for one of the three measures.
Abstract: ─Motivated by declining fish populations and the apparent inability of regulatory agencies to manage important fisheries, this research measures the accuracy of a fishery model that explicitly models the regulatory process and the resulting degree of compliance by fishers. The method involved careful review and enhancement of a prior model with more limited regulatory sub model, and then measuring, for both models, the mean absolute error of model calculated values for historical spawning biomass, acceptable biological catch, and harvest. The most recent five years of data were held back so that model prediction error could also be computed. Results indicated that although the fitness error for the enhanced model was significantly less than the prior model (23% vs. 38%), predictions were improved only for one of the three measures. The implications for researchers seeking to endogenously model fishery management processes are sobering. Policy makers on the other hand will likely see the results as support for their instinctual skepticism regarding policy models.
2 citations
1 citations