Schedule Overrun Survey

Schedule Overrun Survey

[Subramani Gopalan]

  

Thank you for reading this post. I am a graduate student at Carleton
University conducting a survey to collect data for my thesis titled
"Reasons for schedule overruns in software development projects". The
questionnaire does not take up more than 15 minutes to complete. The
thesis is being supervised by Professor A.J. Bailetti of the School of
Business. 

This survey may be completed by those who fulfil all the conditions given
below: 

1)Canadian software development project managers or software engineers
(Non-Canadian developers are not part of my sample. If you are a non-Canadian
developer, I sincerely thank you for your interest)
2) Who have worked on a project that has experienced schedule overruns
3) The project should have been completed in the last two years (after May 1993)

I do not require sensitive data, nevertheless, I assure you that all data
will be kept confidential.  No link will be made between you and the data
provided in this questionnaire. Information from individual responses
will not be divulged to anyone un der any circumstances.  While every
attempt has been made to make this questionnaire respondent-friendly,
should you require any clarification please send an E-mail message to
`sgopalan@business.carleton.ca'.  It shall be addressed promptly.
Professor Bailetti may be reached at (613) 788-2370.

I appreciate your cooperation and highly value your input.  Thank you in
advance for promptly returning the completed questionnaire. 

Sincerely,
Subramani Gopalan
Graduate Student	

 			   	QUESTIONNAIRE

Section 1: Project data 

1.1) Your Name:  
     Phone Number:(     )      -

1.2) Company Name:

1.3) The main line of business of your company is:

1.4) Title of project is:

1.5)  Date of project completion:       /       /         (dd / mm / yy)

1.6)What is the appropriate description of this project? (Please place an
    X after the most appropriate category-choose only one). 

	Custom software development				
     	Embedded software development			
	Software development for a target market		
	Other:	

Section 2: Complexity data

2.1.a) What is the total number of Source Lines of Code written for this
       project including new and reused code? : 

2.1.b)	Please specify the language(s) in which the code was written: 

2.2) What is the total number of modules developed for this project? 

2.3) How does this project compare in size in relation to the other
projects your company undertakes? (Please place an X after the appropriate
category). 
		
	Very Large      
	Large    
	Average    
	Small
	Very Small
		   
Section 3: Schedule overrun data

3.1)	Please indicate the following for this project:

Estimated duration of the project in calendar weeks: 

Actual duration ofthe project in calendar weeks: 

Duration of a project is the time, in calendar weeks, from the start of
high-level design to first customer delivery


3.2)Please indicate the impact of the schedule overrun on the following.
Please put the appropriate number at the end of each line. 

			     Very			  Not at all 
			   Significant			  significant

Project cost			1	2	3	4	5	

Customer satisfaction		1	2	3	4	5

Progress of dependent projects	1	2	3	4	5

Financial success		1	2	3	4	5

Other______________________	1	2	3	4	5

___________________________	1	2	3	4	5

___________________________	1	2	3	4	5


3.3)Please indicate the importance of the following reasons in causing
schedule overrun in this project.  Put a `0' (zero) if the reason played
no part in causing the schedule overrun or put the appropriate number at
the end of each line: 
	
			   Not at all			     Very
 			    important			   important

1)Changes in specifications	1	2	3	4	5

2)Lack of senior management
  support			1	2	3	4	5

3)Inadequate resource 
  allocation			1	2	3	4	5

4)Poor project management	1	2	3	4	5

5)Incorrect estimation of 
  development time		1	2	3	4	5 

6)Problems with organizing 
  project teams 		1	2	3	4	5 

7)Inability to detect 
  problems early		1	2	3	4	5

8)Lack of inter-departmental
  cooperation			1	2	3	4	5

9)Inflated user expectations	1	2	3	4	5

10)Inadequate techniques	1	2	3	4	5

11)Lack of experience of 
   the team			1	2	3	4	5

12)Other _____________________	1	2	3	4	5

3.4)If you had to do this project again, what would you do differently to
reduce or eliminate the schedule overrun? 








Section 4: Request for a copy of the findings

Should you be interested in receiving a copy of the findings, please say
`YES' here: 


THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME

--
Subramani Gopalan
sgopalan@business.carleton.ca
(613) 788-2600 Ext:2370