Management models in the NZ software industry

• Main Authors: Holger Spill, David Mason
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Computing and Information Technology Research and Education (CITRENZ)
• Series: Journal of Applied Computing and Information Technology
• Online Access: http://www.citrenz.ac.nz/jacit/JACIT1801/2014Spill_SoftwareManagementModels.html

This research interviewed eight innovative New Zealand software companies to find out how they manage new product development. It looked at how management used standard techniques of software development to manage product uncertainty through the theoretical lens of the Cyclic Innovation Model. The study found that while there is considerable variation, the management of innovation was largely determined by the level of complexity. Organizations with complex innovative software products had a more iterative software development style, more flexible internal processes and swifter decision-making. Organizations with less complexity in their products tended to use more formal structured approaches. Overall complexity could be inferred with reference to four key factors within the development environment.