Empirical evaluation of software development methodology selection consistency: A case study using Analytical Hierarchy Process

摘要

When developing software, the selection of an appropriate software development methodology is an essential decision. The experience, knowledge, expertise, of the software developer and organizational development context are assumed to have a great influence in selecting a methodology. In this research, we examine factors affecting the selection of software development methodologies and the consistency in which the methodology selection process is carried out. Based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), we evaluate the consistency in software development methodology selection in a particular software development company. We investigate the importance of a number of factors by first soliciting the criteria from practitioners before methodology selection and then later observing the actual implementation of a software development methodology. The paper identifies the predictor variables for development methodology selection and the dynamics triggered by situational variables. The results of our findings as well as recommendations for further work are presented in this paper.