Top Management Support for Software Cost Estimation: A Case Study of the Current Practice and Impacts

Jurka Rahikkala; Sami Hyrynsalmi; Ville Leppänen; Tommi Mikkonen; Johannes Holvitie

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-69926-4_8

Top Management Support for Software Cost Estimation: A Case Study of the Current Practice and Impacts

Jurka Rahikkala, Sami Hyrynsalmi, Ville Leppänen, Tommi Mikkonen, Johannes Holvitie

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

Context: Despite of decades of research in software cost estimation (SCE), estimating the cost of software is difficult and software project overruns are common. Many researchers and practitioners agree that organisational issues and methodologies are equally important for successful SCE. Regardless of this recent development, SCE research is revolving heavily around methodologies. At the same time the project management research has undergone a major shift towards managerial issues, and found that top management support is even the most important success factor for projects.
Goal: This study aims to shed light on top management’s role in SCE by identifying real-life practices for top management participation in SCE, as well as related organisational effects. Also, the impact of top management actions on project success is examined.
Method: The study takes a qualitative and explorative case study based approach. In total, 18 semi-structured interviews aided the study of three projects in three organisations.
Results: The results show that top management takes no, or very little, direct actions to participate in SCE. However, projects can conclude successfully regardless of the low extent of participation.
Conclusions: Top management actions may also induce bias in estimation, influencing project success negatively. This implies that senior managers must recognise the importance of seeking realism and avoid influencing he estimation.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Product-Focused Software Process Improvement
Subtitle of host publication	18th International Conference, PROFES 2017, Innsbruck, Austria, November 29–December 1, 2017, Proceedings
Editors	Michael Felderer, Daniel Méndez Fernández, Burak Turhan, Marcos Kalinowski, Federica Sarro, Dietmar Winkler
Publisher	Springer
Pages	89-107
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Print)	978-3-319-69925-7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69926-4_8
Publication status	Published - 29 Nov 2017
Publication type	A4 Article in conference proceedings
Event	International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement - Duration: 1 Jan 2000 → …

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume	10611
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement
Period	1/01/00 → …

Publication forum classification

Publication forum level 1

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-69926-4_8

PROFES_2017__SCE_TMS (final)
he final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69926-4_8
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http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201712012300

Cite this

Rahikkala, J., Hyrynsalmi, S., Leppänen, V., Mikkonen, T., & Holvitie, J. (2017). Top Management Support for Software Cost Estimation: A Case Study of the Current Practice and Impacts. In M. Felderer, D. M. Fernández, B. Turhan, M. Kalinowski, F. Sarro, & D. Winkler (Eds.), Product-Focused Software Process Improvement: 18th International Conference, PROFES 2017, Innsbruck, Austria, November 29–December 1, 2017, Proceedings (pp. 89-107). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 10611). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69926-4_8

Rahikkala, Jurka ; Hyrynsalmi, Sami ; Leppänen, Ville et al. / Top Management Support for Software Cost Estimation : A Case Study of the Current Practice and Impacts. Product-Focused Software Process Improvement: 18th International Conference, PROFES 2017, Innsbruck, Austria, November 29–December 1, 2017, Proceedings. editor / Michael Felderer ; Daniel Méndez Fernández ; Burak Turhan ; Marcos Kalinowski ; Federica Sarro ; Dietmar Winkler. Springer, 2017. pp. 89-107 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

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abstract = "Context: Despite of decades of research in software cost estimation (SCE), estimating the cost of software is difficult and software project overruns are common. Many researchers and practitioners agree that organisational issues and methodologies are equally important for successful SCE. Regardless of this recent development, SCE research is revolving heavily around methodologies. At the same time the project management research has undergone a major shift towards managerial issues, and found that top management support is even the most important success factor for projects.Goal: This study aims to shed light on top management{\textquoteright}s role in SCE by identifying real-life practices for top management participation in SCE, as well as related organisational effects. Also, the impact of top management actions on project success is examined.Method: The study takes a qualitative and explorative case study based approach. In total, 18 semi-structured interviews aided the study of three projects in three organisations.Results: The results show that top management takes no, or very little, direct actions to participate in SCE. However, projects can conclude successfully regardless of the low extent of participation.Conclusions: Top management actions may also induce bias in estimation, influencing project success negatively. This implies that senior managers must recognise the importance of seeking realism and avoid influencing he estimation.",

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Rahikkala, J, Hyrynsalmi, S, Leppänen, V, Mikkonen, T & Holvitie, J 2017, Top Management Support for Software Cost Estimation: A Case Study of the Current Practice and Impacts. in M Felderer, DM Fernández, B Turhan, M Kalinowski, F Sarro & D Winkler (eds), Product-Focused Software Process Improvement: 18th International Conference, PROFES 2017, Innsbruck, Austria, November 29–December 1, 2017, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 10611, Springer, pp. 89-107, International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement, 1/01/00. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69926-4_8

Top Management Support for Software Cost Estimation: A Case Study of the Current Practice and Impacts. / Rahikkala, Jurka; Hyrynsalmi, Sami; Leppänen, Ville et al.
Product-Focused Software Process Improvement: 18th International Conference, PROFES 2017, Innsbruck, Austria, November 29–December 1, 2017, Proceedings. ed. / Michael Felderer; Daniel Méndez Fernández; Burak Turhan; Marcos Kalinowski; Federica Sarro; Dietmar Winkler. Springer, 2017. p. 89-107 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 10611).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Top Management Support for Software Cost Estimation

T2 - International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement

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AU - Hyrynsalmi, Sami

AU - Leppänen, Ville

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AB - Context: Despite of decades of research in software cost estimation (SCE), estimating the cost of software is difficult and software project overruns are common. Many researchers and practitioners agree that organisational issues and methodologies are equally important for successful SCE. Regardless of this recent development, SCE research is revolving heavily around methodologies. At the same time the project management research has undergone a major shift towards managerial issues, and found that top management support is even the most important success factor for projects.Goal: This study aims to shed light on top management’s role in SCE by identifying real-life practices for top management participation in SCE, as well as related organisational effects. Also, the impact of top management actions on project success is examined.Method: The study takes a qualitative and explorative case study based approach. In total, 18 semi-structured interviews aided the study of three projects in three organisations.Results: The results show that top management takes no, or very little, direct actions to participate in SCE. However, projects can conclude successfully regardless of the low extent of participation.Conclusions: Top management actions may also induce bias in estimation, influencing project success negatively. This implies that senior managers must recognise the importance of seeking realism and avoid influencing he estimation.

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A2 - Fernández, Daniel Méndez

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A2 - Winkler, Dietmar

PB - Springer

Y2 - 1 January 2000

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Rahikkala J, Hyrynsalmi S, Leppänen V, Mikkonen T, Holvitie J. Top Management Support for Software Cost Estimation: A Case Study of the Current Practice and Impacts. In Felderer M, Fernández DM, Turhan B, Kalinowski M, Sarro F, Winkler D, editors, Product-Focused Software Process Improvement: 18th International Conference, PROFES 2017, Innsbruck, Austria, November 29–December 1, 2017, Proceedings. Springer. 2017. p. 89-107. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-69926-4_8

Top Management Support for Software Cost Estimation: A Case Study of the Current Practice and Impacts

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