Risk management applied to software development projects in incubated technology-based companies: literature review, classification, and analysis

Abstract:

Software projects are subjected to several risk analyses, since risk related information can improve managers’ decision making. This paper aimed at performing a review, classification, and analysis of the literature on risk management applied to software development projects, with an emphasis on incubated technology based companies. This theoretical-conceptual research is justified for two reasons: first, because the bulk of the research literature has not sufficiently addressed this subject; and second, because a diagnostic study carried out with incubated technology based companies emphasized the importance of this subject to them. The literature used as the grounds for this study was selected from Brazil’s Coordination of Improvement for Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) database of periodicals, and classified by year of publication, place where research was conducted, type of study and approach, research aim, and research focus. We also conducted a survey of the most relevant current studies on risk management for software development projects, which revealed that studies on this issue, aimed at incubated technology based companies, are scarce. This indicates the need for empirical research to assist incubated companies in the identification of main risk factors for their business while reducing or eliminating the likelihood of failures.

Risk management; Software development; Incubated technology based company