Browsing by Author "Lal, Ramesh"

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Strategic factors in agile software development method adaptation : a study of market-driven organisations : a thesis presented in partial [fulfilment] of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology at Massey University, Albany campus, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2011) Lal, Ramesh
Agile methods now provide an alternative to the structured approach for software development. Since their early adoption in the mid-1990s, there has been a growing acceptance of agile methods as a legitimate development approach amongst the information systems development community. Amongst some of the talked about agile benefits in comparison to the structured approach are improvements in delivery and quality standards, productivity levels and knowledge transfer within the organisation, and customer satisfaction through collaboration and frequent delivery of implemented features. The agile philosophy of a team approach and ownership for product development creates a feel-good and motivational factor for engineers. Regardless, the inventors of the agile approach strongly emphasize adaptation to achieve continuous product development success. As a result, an understanding of the adoption of agile methods cannot be separated from an understanding of its adaptation by development teams. Using a theoretical framework relating to software development process adaptation, developed by Fitzgerald (1998), and through two case studies (agile adopters) qualitative data in relation to agile adaptation was gathered and analysed to determine the nature of agile adaptation. This revealed that adaptation is a critical feature of agile approaches. These adaptations enhance the strategic nature of the organisational factors and the chosen agile approach to develop market differential products. The main contribution of the thesis is that it presents an adapted agile adaptation framework showing that at a conceptual level the main structures (the organisational and methodology factors) that influence software development remain consistent when moving to agile development. However, the underlying elements of these factors are comprehensively adapted, transforming an organisation into an agile organisation in a market-driven environment. Further, in this environment the organisational and development structures will keep evolving due to the emerging market factors and improvements in product development technologies.
User interface design practice for web sites and web-based applications in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Information Science in Information Systems at Massey University
(Massey University, 2004) Lal, Ramesh
The research regarding user interface design practices for Web sites and Web-based applications revealed that there is very little awareness in the industry in New Zealand of usability issues. There is general lack of education, knowledge, and skills in usability methods, processes, and techniques amongst designers and developers. Generally speaking universities in New Zealand have not kept up with global changes in human - computer interaction (HCI) education. Most universities in New Zealand offer one or two HCI courses within their information technology undergraduate degree programmes, and those are not compulsory for students to study. Conversely, HCI has become a major area of study in universities from Australia, US, and the UK where usability is a major industrial concern. One possible reason for this is that New Zealand universities do not offer cognitive psychology and social science courses with information technology major to make HCI courses more relevant for students who study HCI.