Question:
What are the necessary technical skills, knowledge, and abilities a team manager should have in a software development project? How are communication skills tied to project success?
Necessary technical skills, knowledge and abilities of a team manager in software development project and influence of communication skills on project success:
As the use of IT technique is increasing, the organizations are giving importance on undertaking projects for software implementation. Although the organizations analyze risks associated with software implementation, often these projects fail due to lack of involvement with top management in the project. However Prinzo (2011) stated that often management team set unrealistic expectations for the project. As the software development projects are complex in nature, setting unrealistic goals reduces chances for completing the project successfully.
The research conducted by Poole, (2002) also indicates that the chances of project failure increase if members of the project team do not have sufficient information what they have to do. The research conducted by Turk, France & Rumpe (2014) also indicates that the chances of project failure also increase if members of the team are not provided with proper requirements clearly stating roles and responsibilities of staffs within team. Analysis on the problems faced during the project also reflects that the project teams also face problems related with timely completion of the tasks. Highsmith (2013) also opined that the approach used by team management used for handling members of project team influences success of the project.
James (2009) suggested that the techniques used for software changes are being changed rapidly. As new technologies are being introduced for developing software, developers working in software development project need to have in depth knowledge on these technologies. However the research conducted by Basili et al. (2013) also indicates that lack of soft skills among members of a project team is also considered as one of the influencing factors which impact on successful completion of the project.
Analysis on the problems identified in three articles indicates that most of the software development projects fail due to improper application of project management techniques. Although introduction of new technologies is making the software development project more complex, it is also evident that the members of project team also need enhance their soft skills in order to ensure that the project will be completed successfully.
Analysis on the issues generated while executing tasks related with software development project indicates that the technologies being used in project management are being innovated regularly. James (2009) stated that the new technologies such as PHP, Java and .Net are being used widely in software development projects. Discussion on the technological knowledge required for developing software indicates that the developers require possessing in depth knowledge on frameworks and libraries associated with these technologies. However James (2009) also opined that use of agile methodology is increasing for managing the projects related with software development. It reflects that the professionals who are involved with software development projects need to have knowledge on agile methodology. From the analysis it is also evident that management and members of the project team needs to have adequate soft skills so that productivity of the teams increasing.
Analysis on the articles also indicates that the chances for completing a project successfully can be increased by using XP methods. Use of XP methods enables management of software development project team to complete the entire task in several iterations. However use of XP approach also enables the project team to use onsite customers. The project group using XP techniques needs to be facilitated for making a requirement co-ordination group so that members of the team becomes able to understand their roles and responsibilities in team.
The discussion on activities being conducted in project teams for software developed indicates that communication plays an important role for completing the project successfully. However style used by leaders for managing the team also impacts on successful completion of projects. Poole, (2002) suggested if members of a team do not get sufficient opportunities to communicate with leaders, their performance also degrades. Lack of communication with management of project team also indicates that the staffs fail to discuss the issues generated while executing the tasks. As an impact, the leaders also do not get sufficient opportunities for identifying and solving the issues. Analysis on the problems faced while completing a project also indicates that presence of soft skills is important to finish the project successfully. However use of soft skills also enables the project members to communicate with customers also. Communicating with customers increases the chances of completing the project successfully.
References:
Basili, V. R., Heidrich, J., Lindvall, M., Münch, J., Regardie, M., Rombach, D., … & Trendowicz, A. (2013). Linking software development and business strategy through measurement. arXiv preprint arXiv:1311.6224
Highsmith, J. (2013). Adaptive software development: a collaborative approach to managing complex systems. Addison-Wesley.
Poole, C.(2002) Three Week Project Turnaround, Retrieved from https://c2.com/cgi-bin/wiki?ThreeWeekProjectTurnaround [11 June 2015]
Prinzo, R. (2011). Project Management: 6 best practices for ensuring software implementation success. CIO Magazine. June 6. Retrieved from https://www.cio.com/article/683570/Project_Management_6_Best_Practices_for_Ensuring_Software_Implementation_Success [11 June 2015]
James, J. (2009). 10 skills developers will need in the next five years. TechRepublic. Retrieved from https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-skills-developers-will-need-in-the-next-five-years/[11 June 2015]
Turk, D., France, R., & Rumpe, B. (2014). Assumptions underlying agile software development processes. arXiv preprint arXiv:1409.6610.
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