Case Study Research in Software Engineering: Guidelines and Examples

CHAPTER 11

TWO LONGITUDINAL CASE STUDIES OF SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

11.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter reports the experiences of the third author as he undertook two longitudinal case studies of software projects at IBM Hursley Park, as part of his PhD research. The two projects are referred to respectively as Project B and Project C to retain consistent identifiers with previous publications [144–147, 152, 154, 155] on these case studies.

11.2 BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH PROJECT

In the mid-1990s, IBM Hursley Park and Bournemouth University, both in the United Kingdom, had already agreed to undertake a research project. A PhD student would be the primary researcher for the project. The aim of the research project was very broadly defined: essentially the PhD student would identify one or more problematic situations at the company and would work toward understanding these situations and seeking solutions or resolutions to these situations. The project was initiated prior to the recruitment and selection of the student. Also, the objectives imply an opportunity for action research.

IBM Hursley Park and the University advertised the student post and jointly participated in the selection and recruitment process. It had been agreed that the student would relocate close to the company and would, at least for the first few months, work full time at the company, traveling to the University when it was appropriate to do so. This arrangement would ensure that the researcher had direct and ...