Assessing the Determinants of Adopting Component-Based Development in a Global Context: A Client-Vendor Analysis

Abstract

Component-based software (CBS) development is an attractive proposition to globally distributed software development organizations because of its potential to integrate reusable components in new products. Several organizations have adopted CBS development practices to support their global development processes, a phenomenon referred to as globally distributed CBS development. Many factors influence an organization’s decision to adopt globally distributed CBS development practices. The objective of this paper is to systematically assess the determinants that influence the adoption of CBS development practices in global software development organizations. We develop a conceptual research model based on the diffusion of innovation theory and the technology-organization-environment framework. Data collected from 115 participants are used to test the conceptual model. The findings from our study indicate that relative advantage, complexity, technology competence, and top management support are the key determinants for organizations to adopt globally distributed CBS development practices. The assessment of both the direct and total effects of the determinants offers insight into the organization’s decision to adopt globally distributed CBS development practices.