System development techniques for small and medium size installations

Abstract

Increasing attention has been focused on team management as a better way to improve software production. Neverthe less, most of the experiences described in recent publications to support the present trends in software engineering~ deal mainly with large installations and -apparently-large human groups involved in systems development. The implementation of such techniques in small working groups~ implies some important changes in order to produce an effective tool that provides software quality and production cost reductions. Not much attention~ either~ has been given to the psychological factors affecting the small group behaviour~ where the individual influence comes to be higher than in large systems; our experiences intending to implement Chief Programmer Teams in structured COBOL groups~ show that it is not feasible to implement the above mentioned tec~ niques t unless an adaptation is made for small teams~ before any practical work be done. The present paper describes how these techniques were adapted and implemented. A brief analysis of the experiences and results so far obtained support a set of solutions found~ pointing to the building of a practical methodology to be used by these groups. The later experiences herein described -based on these new working methods-show results indicating a productivity rising over 30% and an excellent individual disposition towards the daily workload. Higher productivity and personal enthusiastic attitudes provide a better opportunity to satisfy institutional objectives and individual personal goals.