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1
A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Contents
Abstract........................................................................................................................................................ 3
1. Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1. Background of the study................................................................................................................ 5
1.2. Statement of the problem............................................................................................................. 6
1.3. Research Questions........................................................................................................................7
1.4. Research Objectives....................................................................................................................... 8
1.4.1. Main Objectives......................................................................................................................8
1.4.2. Specific Objectives................................................................................................................. 8
1.5. Significance.................................................................................................................................... 9
1.6. Scope of the study......................................................................................................................... 9
2. Review of Related Literature...............................................................................................................11
2.1. Introduction................................................................................................................................. 11
2.2. Conceptual Framework................................................................................................................12
2.3. Description of the study area.......................................................................................................14
2.3.1. Understanding the Software Development Landscape..........................................................14
2.3.2. The Critical Role of the Project Team.................................................................................. 14
2.3.3. Limitations of Traditional Approaches.................................................................................15
2.3.4. The Team-Centric Approach:............................................................................................... 15
3. Research Method and Procedures........................................................................................................16
3.1. Data Collection.............................................................................................................................16
3.2. Data Analysis................................................................................................................................ 18
3.3. How AHP Problem Hierarchy will be used....................................................................................20
4. Timeline and Resources...................................................................................................................... 21
5. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................... 22
6. References........................................................................................................................................... 23
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Abstract
Proper team management and coordination between team members have a vital role in the success of any
Software development projects often suffer from missed deadlines, budget overruns, and subpar quality.
This research investigates a critical factor often overlooked: the project team itself. Most project
management methods prioritize tools, schedules, and methodologies, treating teams as resources. Effective
software project team management involves coordination, communication, collaboration, and leadership
to guide the team toward achieving project goals efficiently and successfully.
This study proposes a new approach: prioritizing the project team for the success of the software
development project by addressing the crucial role of project team management and emphasizing the
I will employ a mixed-method approach, combining a literature review on project success factors and
team dynamics with case studies of successful projects that prioritized the team. Additionally, surveys and
This research aims to identify key factors affecting project success and effective team management when
prioritizing the team. We expect to discover how prioritizing the team impacts project success rates, team
performance, and team well-being. The ultimate goal is to develop practical recommendations for project
managers on how to invest in their teams and achieve better software project outcomes through a team-
centric approach. Generally, this research underscores the critical link between effective project team
management and project success, advocating for a people-centric approach that recognizes the team as the
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
1. Introduction
In the realm of software project management, the success of a project heavily relies on the effectiveness of
the project team. Managing a software project team involves various aspects such as resource allocation,
task assignment, communication, conflict resolution, and overall team coordination. Prioritizing the
project team is crucial for ensuring that the right people are in the right roles at the right time to achieve
project success. This process involves identifying key team members, understanding their strengths and
Software development projects are often plagued by missed deadlines, budget overruns, and subpar
quality. While various factors contribute to this, a critical issue lies in neglecting the human element - the
project team itself. Most project management often focuses on methodologies, tools, and schedules,
treating teams as resources to be managed. This proposal challenges this approach and advocates for
Software project team management is a critical aspect of ensuring the successful delivery of any software
development project. Prioritizing the project team is crucial to ensure that they are motivated, engaged,
and working efficiently toward achieving project goals. Moreover, it is essential for achieving project
success as it ensures that the right resources are allocated to the most critical tasks and that team members
Research has shown that when teams are well managed and their needs are prioritized, they are more
likely to perform better, stay motivated, and deliver high-quality work consistently.
This research aims to explore how enhancing software project team management through team
prioritization can lead to improved project outcomes. This leads to improved collaboration, productivity,
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
This requires a well-thought-out research methodology to identify key factors that enhance team
The research work will employ a mixed-method approach, combining a literature review on project
success factors and team dynamics with case studies of successful projects that prioritized the team.
Additionally, surveys and interviews with project managers and team members will be conducted.
leadership, organizations can cultivate high-performing teams that deliver quality results consistently.
The background of the study sets the stage for understanding the context and rationale behind the research
focus.
Software development projects are notoriously complex and prone to failure. While various factors
contribute to this, a critical issue lies in overlooking the human element - the project team itself.
Traditional project management often focuses on methodologies, tools, and schedules, treating teams as
resources to be managed.
This study proposes a different approach: prioritizing the project team for the success of software
development project.
Project success relies heavily on the skills, motivation, and collaboration of the project team. A well-
The most project management methods often focus on processes and tools without adequately addressing
team dynamics, communication, and well-being. This can lead to burnout, low morale, and ultimately,
project failure.
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
This study builds upon existing research on project management and team dynamics. It aims to contribute
to a growing body of knowledge that emphasizes the human element as a critical factor for software
project success. By prioritizing the team, we can create a foundation for achieving project goals while
Software projects often fail to meet deadlines, budgets, or quality expectations. This can be attributed, in
part, to a lack of focus on the project team itself. While project management methodologies and tools are
Most of modern software project management practices often overlook the importance of team dynamics,
well-being, and motivation. This can lead to several problems: such as Low morale and burnout,
Communication breakdowns, Skill gaps, knowledge silos, and Unrealistic expectations and pressure.
Focusing solely on deadlines and budgets can create a stressful environment that hinders creativity and
problem-solving. These issues contribute to project failures and hinder the overall effectiveness of
By investing in the team through proper composition, fostering a supportive work environment, and
promoting continuous development, we can expect; increased project success rates, improved team morale
and motivation, reduced burnout and turnover, enhanced overall project quality
This approach challenges the traditional view where project teams are seen as simply resources to be
managed. Instead, it emphasizes building a strong, empowered team as the foundation for achieving
Building teams with the right mix of skills, experience, and diversity to foster collaboration and
innovation.
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Creating a culture of open communication, recognition, and work-life balance to keep team
Providing opportunities for training, skill development, and team-building activities to enhance
The questions should be tailored to the specific research focus and adapt them as needed throughout my
investigation.
By addressing the following research questions, project managers can gain valuable insights into
optimizing project team management strategies to increase the likelihood of project success.
1. What are the key factors that contribute to the success of a software project team?
2. What strategies can be implemented to enhance communication and collaboration within the
project team?
3. How does the allocation of resources affect the performance and outcomes of a software project
team?
4. What are the impacts of prioritizing the project team on the success of software projects?
5. How does the composition of the project team (skills, experience, and diversity) influence project
6. To what extent does prioritizing the project team influence project success rates, as measured by
7. How do team dynamics and well-being, fostered through prioritizing the team, translate into
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
8. What are the perceived benefits and challenges of prioritizing the project team from the
The purpose of this study is to shed light on the benefits of prioritizing the project team in software
project. It is expected that organizations that place a strong emphasis on their project teams will
experience higher levels of productivity, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction. The results will provide
valuable insights for practitioners looking to enhance their software project management practices.
ii. To analyze the impact of prioritizing the project team on the success of software
development projects
ii. To understand the importance of prioritizing the project team in software project
management.
iii. To Measure the Impact of prioritizing the project team on Project Outcomes
By achieving these objectives, this research intends to provide valuable insights and practical guidance for
improving project management practices through a team-centric approach. This approach prioritizes the
well-being, skills, and development of the project team, ultimately leading to higher project success rates
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
1.5. Significance
The success of a software project depends on the effectiveness of project management. Software project
management involves planning, organizing, and controlling resources to achieve specific software project
goals. However, the complexity of software development projects often results in several issues that affect
the performance of the software project management team. These issues can include poor communication,
unrealistic deadlines, lack of resources, and inadequate risk management, among others.
The motivation for conducting study for prioritizing issues of software project management team is to
identify the most critical issues that affect the performance of the software project management team.
Prioritizing these issues will enable project managers to focus their efforts on resolving the most critical
Moreover, prioritizing the issues of software project management team can help in identifying the areas
where the team needs to improve their skills and knowledge. This can be achieved through training
programs, coaching, or mentoring. It can also help in identifying the areas where additional resources are
Furthermore, the study can help in identifying the differences in the perception of issues among project
stakeholders, including project managers, developers, and clients. This can help in developing strategies to
address these differences, leading to better communication and collaboration between stakeholders.
A well-managed and cohesive project team is more likely to deliver high-quality results within budget and
schedule constraints. By emphasizing the importance of the project team, organizations can create an
The scope of the research study encompasses a broad range of elements related to optimizing project team
By addressing the following key aspects within the scope of the study, I will explore deep into the multifaceted
nature of software project team management, paving the way for valuable insights and recommendations to enhance
The study will encompass various software project teams, potentially including different sizes,
The research will explore various approaches to prioritizing the team, such as focusing on team
The study will consider traditional success factors like meeting deadlines, budgets, and quality
expectations. Additionally, it will explore how prioritizing the team may influence team well-being
The research will employ a combination of literature review, case studies, and surveys/interviews
While the research may touch upon project management methods that support team-centric
approaches (e.g., Agile), it will not delve deeply into comparing or evaluating specific
methodologies.
The focus will be on the impact of prioritizing project team, not specific training programs or
team-building activities.
While acknowledging the influence of organizational culture, the study will not conduct a deep
analysis of how to change organizational culture but rather focus on team-centric strategies
Project Complexity: The research may initially focus on projects of a specific complexity level
(e.g., medium complexity) to establish a baseline. The impact of team prioritization on highly
Team Size: The study may focus on teams of a particular size range (e.g., small to medium-sized
teams) to ensure manageable data collection. The impact on larger teams can be explored further in
later investigations.
Specific Software Development Technologies: The research will focus on the general software
Defining the scope ensures your research stays focused and manageable while providing a clear path for
investigation. You can expand upon the scope in future research based on the initial findings.
2.1. Introduction
This chapter will present a theoretical literature, and empirical review, which is a summary of previous
related studies and various literature on the research problem areas. The available literature is aimed at
reviewing empirical evidence to answer the research questions and identify the gap in project management
practice.
The literature review should explore existing research on project management, team dynamics, team
Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of effective project team management in software
projects. Research has shown that prioritized teams with strong leadership, clear communication channels,
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
and a shared vision are more likely to succeed in their projects. By prioritizing the project team,
organizations can create an environment that fosters collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
Research has shown that when teams are well managed and their needs are prioritized, they are more
likely to perform better, stay motivated, and deliver high-quality work consistently.
This study employs a qualitative research approach to investigate the impact of prioritizing the project
Studies show a significant percentage of software projects fail to meet deadlines, budgets, or quality
expectations. This highlights the need for improved project management strategies.
environment, resource allocation and development leads to project success, improved team performance,
Team Composition
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Team Development
Project Success
Team Performance
Team Well-being
Moderating Variables:
Project Complexity (high complexity might require stronger team composition and development)
Organizational Culture (supportive cultures amplify the benefits of prioritizing the team)
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Relationships:
Arrows flow from independent variables towards the "Prioritized Project Team" box, signifying
Arrows flow from the "Prioritized Project Team" box to the dependent variables, highlighting how
Consider adding arrows between some dependent variables (e.g., high morale -> increased
productivity).
Arrows from moderating variables point towards the relationships between independent and
dependent variables, indicating how complexity and culture can influence the impact of team
factors.
Visual Representation: …
This framework will be represented using Flowchart- emphasize the sequential process of building a
prioritized team for project success. Choosing the best visual representation depends on your needs and
audience.
Software development projects are inherently complex endeavors. They often involve rapidly evolving
technologies, unforeseen requirement changes and High degree of collaboration and communication.
Traditional project management approaches often struggle to address these complexities effectively. They
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Software project success relies heavily on the skills, dedication, and collaboration of the project team.
Effective teams possess a blend of Technical expertise, Soft skills, and Domain knowledge.
Traditional project management often overlooks the human element, focusing on processes and tools over
people. This can lead to: Decreased team morale and motivation, Communication breakdowns, Skill gaps
This research advocates for a team-centric approach to software project management, where prioritizing
Building high-performing teams: Creating well-rounded teams with the right mix of skills,
programs, and a healthy work-life balance keeps team members motivated and engaged.
Providing continuous learning and development: Investing in training, skill development, and
By prioritizing the team, we can create a foundation for successful software development projects,
This research will focus on investigating the impact of prioritizing the project team on software project
success.
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Three methods will be used for this research work. In the first step, Systematic Literature Review (SLR)
will be performed for the identification of Factors affecting Software Project Success, Prioritizing Project
Team Needs, Communication and Collaboration Strategies, Impact of Resource Allocation and Role of
.In the second step, a questionnaire-type survey will be performed to validate the SLR results. Finally, the
AHP approach will be utilized for the prioritization of identified factors by performing pairwise
Data will be collected through interviews with project managers, developers, and other stakeholders
The research will employ a Mixed-Method Approach. Employing a mix of qualitative approaches
(interviews, observations, case studies) and quantitative methods (surveys, data analysis) to gather
comprehensive insights and data for a holistic understanding of software project team management
dynamics and how prioritizing the project team impacts software project success.
Literature Review: Examining existing research on project management, team dynamics, and
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Case Studies: Analyzing real-world examples of successful software projects to identify best
Surveys and Interviews: Gathering data from project managers, developers, and other team
o Qualitative Research: will conduct interviews with project managers, team leads, and
team members to gather insights into current practices and challenges in managing
- Qualitative Approach: I will conduct interviews or focus groups with project managers and team
- Quantitative Approach: Distribute surveys to project teams to collect data on perceived success factors
- Qualitative Approach: Gather in-depth feedback through open-ended questions to understand specific
- Quantitative Approach: Use Likert scale questions in surveys to quantify the importance of different
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
- Qualitative Approach: Conduct case studies or observations to identify effective communication and
- Qualitative Approach: Interviews with project stakeholders to gather insights on resource allocation
- Quantitative Approach: Analyze project data to quantify the relationship between resource allocation
- Qualitative Approach: Use narrative interviews to explore leadership styles and their influence on team
By following a systematic research methodology and prioritizing the project team effectively, software
projects can enhance their chances of success by leveraging the strengths of their teams while addressing
Upon collecting qualitative and quantitative data through interviews and surveys, thematic analysis can be
employed to identify common themes related to effective team management strategies. Statistical analysis
can also be used to quantify the impact of prioritizing the project team on key performance indicators such
Analyze quantitative data from surveys (descriptive statistics, correlations) to identify patterns and
Analyze qualitative data from interviews and case studies using thematic analysis to identify
Integrate findings from all three methods (literature review, case studies, and surveys/interviews)
Expected Outcomes: By employing a mixed-method approach, this research aims to achieve the
following outcomes:
Identify key factors that contribute to effective team management when prioritizing the project
team.
Understand the impact of prioritizing the project team on software project success rates, team
Develop practical recommendations and best practices for project managers on how to prioritize
Contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the importance of the human element in software
project success.
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
This research design will allows for a comprehensive investigation of the proposed approach, providing
valuable insights for improving software project team management and achieving better results through a
team-centric approach.
goal, and a number of criteria on which the alternatives can be judged that relate to the goal.
For most realistic analyses, criteria are multi-tiered. Criteria weightings are calculated as pairwise
comparisons.
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
(11+10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1) pairwise
Researcher time
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Conduct research by collecting data and any associated travel May 22, 2024
Analyze data: May 30, 2024
First Draft thesis to advisor(s) June 02, 2024
Final thesis submission for signatures June 15, 2024
5. Conclusion
Prioritizing the project team is a fundamental aspect of enhancing software project management
effectiveness and strategic approach to achieving software project success. By investing in the team's well-
being, skills, and development, we can create a foundation for high-performing teams that deliver
exceptional results. By recognizing individual strengths, optimizing resource allocation, fostering effective
organizations can improve their project success rates significantly. Comprehensive plan to explore the
benefits of prioritizing the project team and contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this area.
This study will employs a qualitative research approach to investigate the impact of prioritizing the project
team on software project success. Data will be collected through interviews with project managers,
developers, and other stakeholders involved in software projects. The analysis will focus on identifying
common themes and patterns related to team prioritization and its effects on project outcomes.
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A MASTERS THESIS PROPOSAL
Through thorough research and analysis, actionable recommendations will be developed to prioritize the
project team effectively, leading to improved team performance, enhanced productivity, and successful
project outcomes.
I encourage your support for this proposal. By prioritizing the project team, we can revolutionize software
6. References
1. Project Management Institute (PMI): PMI is a globally recognized organization that provides
practices.
2. ACM Digital Library: The ACM Digital Library is a comprehensive database of computing
literature that includes research articles on effective strategies for managing software projects by
3. SpringerLink: SpringerLink hosts a vast collection of scientific articles covering various topics
including software engineering and project management techniques that emphasize the importance
4. Mohd Hairul Nizam Nasir and Shamsul Sahibuddin(2011) Critical success factors for software
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5. Ahmad N, Laplante PA (2006) Software project management tools: making a practical decision
using AHP. 2006 30th Annual IEEE/ NASA Software Engineering Workshop. IEEE, pp 76–84
6. Dietrich P, Kujala J, Artto K (2013) Inter-team coordination patterns and outcomes in multi-
8. Hu CP, Chang YY, Creswell JW (2017) Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed
9. Hussain M, Khan HU, Khan AW, Khan SU (2021) Prioritizing the issues extracted for getting
right people on right project in software project management from vendors’ perspective. IEEE
Access 9:8718–8732
10. Khan RA, Khan SU (2017) Empirical exploration of communication and coordination practices
11. Khan SU, Khan AW, Khan F, Khan MA, Whangbo TK (2021) Critical success factors of
12. Khan MS, Khan AW, Khan F, Khan MA, Whangbo TK (2022b) Critical challenges to adopt
13. Mohd SSF (2014) Developer coordination in Software-Engineering projects, Ph.D. dissertation.
14. Monasor MJ, Vizcaíno A, Piattini M (2010) A training tool for global software development”.
2010 9th International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and
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management in global software development: a client-vendor analysis. Inf Softw Technol 80:1–19
16. Saaty TL (1988) “What is the analytic hierarchy process?” in Mathematical models for
17. Shameem M, Kumar RR, Kumar C, Chandra B, Khan AA (2018) Prioritizing challenges of
agile process in distributed software development environment using analytic hierarchy process. J
18. Yaghoobi T (2018) Prioritizing key success factors of software projects using fuzzy AHP. J
19. Zwikael O, Aviram EU (2016) Team Development–Why doesn’t it work in project teams. In:
Australia and New Zealand academy of management. in 21st ANZAM 2007 Conference. New
Zealand, pp 1–19
7. Apendixes
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