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The use of knowledge management in software acquisition

Maliha Haddad (George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA)
Vincent Ribière (New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA)

VINE

ISSN: 0305-5728

Article publication date: 4 September 2007

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of knowledge management (KM) principles and technologies to improve the outcomes of software acquisition projects. Software acquisition organizations typically contract‐out their software projects to reduce the risks associated with developing the software internally and to control their cost.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a study of contracted software projects. Research results by the authors emphasize the need for institutionalizing processes for the collection of data about contracting costs within an organization so that databases of metrics about completed projects can be built and later used to forecast costs for future projects to improve the decision‐making processes about outsourcing.

Findings

A study of two‐dozen contracted projects indicates that such organizations face unique risks and hidden costs that are particular to software acquisitions. KM models, practices, and tools are potentially valuable for improving software outsourcing activities.

Originality/value

KM can be useful for identifying the organizational structures, processes and informational technologies for measuring, collecting, and analyzing costs and risks incurred before, during and after the contract award. The same framework can also be used to collect data on the acquisition activities and processes such as writing requests for proposals, contractor evaluation and selection, predicting needed resources, and identifying risks. Such knowledge can be used on future projects to improve the acquisition processes by allocating adequate resources and identifying risks to improve the likelihood of project success.

Keywords

Citation

Haddad, M. and Ribière, V. (2007), "The use of knowledge management in software acquisition", VINE, Vol. 37 No. 3, pp. 295-313. https://doi.org/10.1108/03055720710825627

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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