How to make decisions on software based service development in the mobile handset industry
Handset industryDecision modelSoftware developmentSoftware based serviceRapid Model for Holistic Application EvaluationRaMHAEManagement of enterprisesFöretagsledningManagementBusiness and Economics
Summary Title: How to make decisions on software based servicedevelopment in the mobile handset industry.?The Rapid Model for Holistic Application Evaluation Authors: Per-Inge AnderssonPatrik Dreveborn Tutors: Björn Regnell, Department of Computer Science,Lund UniversityRobert Wenglén, School of Economics and Management,Lund University Problem formulation: Academically the questions of finding out what constitutes a sound decision base and finding out how to handle the issue of a holistic approach must be addressed in order to make a well balanced and relevant decision model. The core question is which decision criteria to include and which drivers are important in estimating the status of the criteria? Practically to provide Sony Ericsson with a formalized evaluation process for decisions on software development that is transparent, objective and challengeable. Purpose: Academically to contribute to the field of decision making research by elaborating on how to make a holistic, rapid and rational decision model. Primarily for software developmentin the handset industry but also valid to other relatedindustries. The framework needs to support the decisionmakers and should also make the reasoning behind thedecisions more transparent. Practically an adaption of themodel for use at Sony Ericsson and evaluate its usefulness tothe organization. Method: Parallel case and literature study to establish the mostrelevant estimation criteria. Development of well defineddrivers of the criteria followed by a two stage evaluation:qualitative interviews and a case evaluation. Conclusions: The contribution to the fields of decision making and estimation primarily lies in the general approach which hasshowed a method of building decision models from a holisticview point. Essential criteria and underlying drivers enablingfaster and more informed decisions have been determined andthe aim of making a normative model is fulfilled by thesynthesis of current practise and theoretical input. The RapidModel for Holistic Application Evaluation (RaMHAE)fulfills its basic purpose by functioning as a ground fordecision making by incorporating the existing organizationalknow-how.