<p>Saab Ericsson Space AB develops products for space for a predetermined price. Since the price is fixed, it is crucial to have a reliable prediction model to estimate the effort needed to develop the product. In general software effort estimation is difficult, and at the software department this is a problem.</p><p>By analyzing metrics, collected from former projects, different prediction models are developed to estimate the number of person hours a software project will require. Models for predicting the effort before a project begins is first developed. Only a few variables are known at this state of a project. The models developed are compared to a current model used at the company. Linear regression models improve the estimate error with nine percent units and nonlinear regression models improve the result even more. The model used today is also calibrated to improve its predictions. A principal component regression model is developed as well. Also a model to improve the estimate during an ongoing project is developed. This is a new approach, and comparison with the first estimate is the only evaluation.</p><p>The result is an improved prediction model. There are several models that perform better than the one used today. In the discussion, positive and negative aspects of the models are debated, leading to the choice of a model, recommended for future use.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2005. / Bibliography: leaves 206-212. Also available online.

Saab Ericsson Space AB develops products for space for a predetermined price. Since the price is fixed, it is crucial to have a reliable prediction model to estimate the effort needed to develop the product. In general software effort estimation is difficult, and at the software department this is a problem. By analyzing metrics, collected from former projects, different prediction models are developed to estimate the number of person hours a software project will require. Models for predicting the effort before a project begins is first developed. Only a few variables are known at this state of a project. The models developed are compared to a current model used at the company. Linear regression models improve the estimate error with nine percent units and nonlinear regression models improve the result even more. The model used today is also calibrated to improve its predictions. A principal component regression model is developed as well. Also a model to improve the estimate during an ongoing project is developed. This is a new approach, and comparison with the first estimate is the only evaluation. The result is an improved prediction model. There are several models that perform better than the one used today. In the discussion, positive and negative aspects of the models are debated, leading to the choice of a model, recommended for future use.

Management information system department has long been considered as a supporting function in organization and develop the system which should fulfill users¡¦ need to support the business process. Although previous studies indicate users participate in project process can enhance the project outcome, the final ISD project failure rate is still high and extra costs and time occurs consequently. Based on internal service concept adopted from marketing filed, this study views MIS department is viewed as an internal service provider and end user is viewed as a customer in development stage. We attempt to understand the antecedents and consequence of user co-production in ISD project. Project outcomes are expected to be affected by user co-production, represented by open communication, shared problem solving, involvement in project governance, tolerance, accommodation, advocacy and personal dedication. Project outcome is evaluated by user satisfaction, system quality and project performance. Besides, this study adopted social capital theory and examined how co-production is affected by social capitals between users and developers. Paired data collected from both user representatives and developers through using survey approach was used to test proposed hypotheses. The results showed that user co-production has positively significant influence on project outcomes, and social capitals between user representatives and developers also have positively significant influence on user co-production. Discussion of the results and conclusions about this study were made. Finally, the study also provides some academic and practical implications

Service-Dominant (S-D) Logics are the basis of contemporary economic activities. Based on this concept, Information System department should transform its role from a technical supporter to a service provider. S-D Logics highlight the importance to build up a successful value-cocreated service systems. This implies that, in addition to technical capabilities and business knowledge, IS department should possess certain capabilities to collaborate with other functional departments to delivery maximum value. The purpose of this research is to explore possible collaborative capabilities that IS personnel should possess, besides the technical skills and business know-how. This research adopted exploratory case study method. Through in-depth interview with developers and users of three complex information system development(ISD) projects, a total of 14 collaborative capabilities that IS personnel need were identified. The relationships among those capabilities as well as their impacts on performance were also identified. Implications of the research results to practitioners and academia are also provided.

The management information systems (MIS) department has played a role that supports information systems development, functionality and business operations in the organization. However, information system development (ISD) projects have a high failure rate because the users¡¦ needs cannot be met. Most of the previous literature indicated that users should be involved and participate in ISD projects to enhance project performance. Nevertheless, the failure rate of ISD projects is still high because of the complex relationship between users and developers. To deal with this problem, previous studies indicated that co-production behavior can facilitate project performance and success. They did not discuss the drivers that influence users to work as co-producers in ISD projects. Different from previous studies, and based on the MARS model concept adopted from the organizational behavior field, this study applies some drivers of co-production and implies that the information system is co-produced by users and developers. Via the MARS model, we attempt to explore the critical role of motivation, IT knowledge, role clarity, and organizational support in influencing user co-production behavior. We also expected that co-production behavior has an influence on system quality and user satisfaction from the perspective of service-dominant logic. Data collected from 178 users confirmed our hypothesis that co-production behavior is positively associated with user satisfaction and system quality, and extrinsic motivation has a positively significant influence on user satisfaction co-production behavior. Finally, the implications for academia and practitioners are also provided.

Technological initiatives should be contextualized in the social, cultural and economic sectors. As information and communications technologies (ICT) have evolved with the process of globalization, ICT has played a significant role in supporting the development for both the marginal group and developing countries. In spite of the increasing numbers of ICT development projects, there is a lack of the robust research and evaluation regarding to ICT project outcomes. This study attempts to examine the ICT projects carried out in the Aboriginals community in Taiwan. Drawing the attention to the issues of power, identity, culture, and society, the postcolonial perspective is adopted. As the nature of the problem and the lack of previous understanding of the phenomenon, the interpretive ethnographic method is deployed in order to explore the cultural and social issues involved. During the two-year research, three ICT projects are examined through participate observation, interviews and related data retrieve. From the reviews of these ICT projects, the findings present in three themes: ¡§Technological Utopianism¡¨; ¡§Power Struggle¡¨ and ¡§Polarization¡¨. Although project Principal-initiator, teachers-project members and Parents- the community agree on the potential of ICT, they approach and expect ICT differently as their disparities in their position in the ICT projects, ICT literacy, and limitation from their social/economic reality. Each stakeholder has faced different context and carried different perception and vision toward ICT and ICT projects. After the ICT projects are carried out, the unanticipated and hidden gap of perception results in dissatisfied stakeholders. Although the media cover the project outcomes with positive tone, and both TY School and Principal obtains the reputation in ICT education, teachers are reluctant to execute ICT project and parents are disappointed and think the projects don¡¦t really help them. In order to accomplish these ICT projects under the disharmony, Principal takes advantage of his power from administration of school, knowledge legitimacy, and the control over resources. The power-laden process occurs and the communication gap is unable to close. Moreover, the relationships between stakeholders are eventually polarized. As failing to taking account of the dynamic context difference and lacking of communication, ICT projects in this study fail to deliver its promise to the people they intended to serve.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. A.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1999. / Bibliography: p. 202-209.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Syracuse University, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-224).