Product-Development Practices That Work: How Internet Companies Build Software Harvard Case Solution & Analysis

As software becomes more prevalent part of the new economy, delegating decisions about its development of technical staff can be risky for managers. The general manager of today must have a good understanding of the most effective methods of design and implementation of software products and services within the organization. Research conducted by the author and colleagues shows growing in the conventional theory of software development: the best evolutionary process. Focusing on the area of ​​Internet software development, the researchers found four practices that lead to success: early release develop product design to customers daily incorporation of new code and rapid feedback on design changes, a team with broad-based experience delivering multiple projects and a major investment in the development of a product architecture. Among the development projects cited Linux, poster child of open source movement, and Internet Explorer 3.0. In environments with rapidly changing markets and technologies, utility evolutionary model is beyond the scope of software development. By dividing the tasks for micro, the company can develop a model to reflect any context. In a more mature environment, companies can ask some upfront product design, use longer micro and develop more functionality before feedback is required. Flexibility is the key. "Hide
by Alan MacCormack Source: MIT Sloan Management Review 12 pages. Publication Date: December 1, 2001. Prod. #: SMR061-PDF-ENG

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