A STUDY ON SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT RISK, RISK MANAGEMENT, PROJECT OUTCOMES AND THEIR INTER-RELATIONSHIP

This research was undertaken with an objective of studying software development project risk, risk management, project outcomes and their inter-relationship in the Indian context. Validated instruments were used to measure risk, risk management and project outcome in software development projects undertaken in India. A second order factor model was developed for risk with five first order factors. Risk management was also identified as a second order construct with four first order factors. These structures were validated using confirmatory factor analysis. Variation in risk across categories of select organization / project characteristics was studied through a series of one way ANOVA tests. Regression model was developed for each of the risk factors by linking it to risk management factors and project /organization characteristics. Similarly regression models were developed for the project outcome measures linking them to risk factors. Integrated models linking risk factors, risk management factors and project outcome measures were tested through structural equation modeling. Quality of the software developed was seen to have a positive relationship with risk management and negative relationship with risk. The other outcome variables, namely time overrun and cost over run, had strong positive relationship with risk. Risk management did not have direct effect on overrun variables. Risk was seen to be acting as an intervening variable between risk management and overrun variables.

Photoacoustic thermal characterization of Al2O3–Ag ceramic nanocomposites

Laser-induced nondestructive photoacoustic (PA) technique has been employed to determine the thermal diffusivity of nanometal (Ag) dispersed ceramic alumina matrix sintered at different temperatures. The thermal diffusivity values are evaluated by knowing the transition frequency from the amplitude spectrum of PA signal using the one-dimensional heat flow model of Rosencwaig and Gersho. Analysis of the data shows that heat transport and hence the thermal diffusivity value is greatly affected by the influence of incorporation of foreign atom. It is also seen that sintering temperature affects the thermal diffusivity value in a substantial manner. The results are interpreted in terms of variation in porosity and carrier-assisted heat transport mechanism in nanometal dispersed ceramics.