The majority of IT companies (35%) cite unclear specifications as the biggest cause for the failure of software development projects.
This is according to results of the ITWeb Software Development Survey, compiled in partnership with Airborne Consulting. A total of 215 respondents were surveyed with 38% of those being IT specialists, 20% in the middle management, and 15% business owners of an IT company.
Brian Harding, COO and co-founder of Airborne Consulting, explains that most businesses do not know what they want down to the level needed to specify a software development project. “Even when companies buy a product, they usually change their business to suit the product or customise the product as they go along.”
He adds that business changes so rapidly that very often software development projects cannot keep up with these changes. “Also businesses do not control the rogue user or person who is changing their mind every two minutes. The project manager is not managing the environment and change adequately.”
The survey shows the majority of respondents (37%) say they are unsure what the average cost of their software development projects is, while 27.5% say they spend between R500 000 and R1 million.
In addition, the majority of companies (34%) spend between six to 12 months on a software development project. Around 65% of surveyed respondents rate .Net C# and VB.net as the preferred programming languages.
Harding adds: “Overall, the survey points to a maturing software development landscape and environment. There are consistent choices around approach and methodology.
“This can only improve results for the customer. However, it remains a very difficult discipline and the challenges lie not in the technology but rather in the management of people, the process change and variable business requirements.”
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