INVESTIGATING SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS PROCESSES USING SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY


Günaydın G., Özkan Yildirim S.

17th IADIS International Conference Information Systems 2024, IS 2024, Porto, Portekiz, 9 - 11 Mart 2024, ss.131-135 identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Porto
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Portekiz
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.131-135
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Process Improvement, Soft Systems Methodology, Software Development Process, Systems Thinking
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Organizations continually strive for operational excellence by refining their processes, streamlining workflows, and minimizing employee turnover to enlarge operational efficiency, enhance productivity, decrease wastage, and improve overall performance. The journey towards process improvement commences with a comprehensive understanding of existing operations which requires a thorough analysis of data and active engagement with stakeholders. In this endeavor, Soft System Methodology (SSM) emerges as a highly effective problem-solving approach, well-suited for analyzing complex processes and identifying appropriate enhancements. This paper is dedicated to the application of SSM in software development process (SDP) across two interlinked organizations. In this study, SSM is leveraged to implement various problem-solving techniques such as systems thinking, rich picture drawings, root definition and related systems construction, conceptual model creations and action planning, all aimed at providing continuous process improvement. Within the context of this research, the study is formed by four sub-processes of SDP, namely Design Management, Technical Development, Testing, and Training processes. These individual sub-processes undergo the rigorous application of a seven-staged SSM methodology to uplift system performance. Notably, the final stage of SSM, which involves actual action implementations that are outlined in the research and some feasible ones are developed. The findings of this study underscore the efficacy of SSM while investigating poorly structured issues within the SDP. Notably, it underscores the importance of real-world activities, while proposing necessary actions to overcome challenges within the SDP landscape.