Risk Management Framework for Distributed Software Team: A Case Study of Telecommunication Company

Abstract

Distributed software development (DSD) has grown rapidly over the last few years and present definite risk to the software industry which need to be carefully analyzed and managed. The risks relating to DSD include lack of trust, ineffective communication, time zone difference, cultural differences such as language and corporate culture along with knowledge sharing challenges. Software risk management approach in DSD, however, is still inadequate and needed further attention. The aim of this paper is to identify the components involved in risk management process related to DSD, and finally to enhance existing risk management framework used in the organization to accommodate the distributed nature of the team. The quantitative approach which is survey method has been chosen as an appropriate research method to achieve the objectives of this paper. The results show that communication is the most prevalent risk faced by the team members in the current risk management practice. The data from the literature and survey were used to expand the list of identified risk in the organization and integrates communication element into the existing framework. The communication element emphasized on the collaboration and commitment of the stakeholders from every site so as to improve risk management in a distributed context.