Towards a framework for evaluating strengths and weaknesses of software projects

Abstract

Currently software projects are considered by some as being no different from traditional engineering projects. Software project management methodologies are developed with a generic concept in mind as is the case with Prince2 and PMBOK. Although these methodologies have a wider scope, there are certain specificities tightly bound to software projects that warrant the need for, in particular, project management methodologies that focus on the development of software projects. This paper presents these specificities in terms of strengths and weaknesses of software projects in contrast to traditional engineering projects. These strengths are factors to be considered seriously and advantage should be taken of them in the management of software projects. We speculate that these strengths may indeed present a plausible framework for the future analysis of different software project management methodologies. At the same time, project managers ought to be cautious about the weaknesses inherent in software projects.