The impact of software process standardization on software flexibility and project management performance: Control theory perspective

It has been assumed for years that process standardization in the development of software will improve the efficiency of the development project by the virtues of applying a learned procedure and tight controls. Past research, however, is inconclusive in the elements that must be in place to achieve the benefits. In this study, we employ the software quality principle of flexibility as a mediator variable to determine if certain design aspects play a key role in achieving the benefits to the project of process standardization. A survey of computer professionals indicates that software flexibility is a positive influence. System designers should apply standard processes but with an eye toward quality design principles. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.