Title: Perceptions of software developers and direct managers in successful and failed software development projects: an agency theory perspective
Abstract: Computer software continues to become a larger part of daily life. An increasing dependence on software is not matched by the ability to manage software development projects. Agency problems are a possible root cause of software development project failures that cost the economy of the United States billions of dollars annually. Agency theory may partially explain the software crisis by examining perception and goal differences between software developers and direct managers. Differences in perceptions and goals between software developers (agents) and direct managers (principals) may lead to conflict and miscommunication. Conflict and miscommunication may contribute to software development project failure. A multivariate analysis of variance (controlled for both the size of the project and the type of software) did not reveal a significant difference between the perceptions of software developers and direct managers for either successful or failed software development projects. The perceptions of software developers and direct managers were found to be significantly different at the p<.05 level for the successful projects' principal components when no other factors were considered.
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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