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Collaborative Technology and Software Engineering
Collaborative technology and software engineering for globally distributed software development teams
September 21, 2006
By: Lynn Marotta
Companies that focus on collaborative technology and
software engineering have gone a long way towards meeting
the needs of globally distributed work teams. Distance
barriers affect many businesses today because of our
ever-expanding global economy. There is a definite strategy
needed to make a long distance working relationship a
success. Software development teams that are spread out
across the globe are certainly not immune to these
challenges.
Some of the more common challenges globally distributed
software development teams face are longer time to market,
breakdown in communication, and under utilization of key
resources. By using collaborative technology, which is
specifically designed to help software development teams
bridge the distance gap, collaborative software development
can be achieved no matter where the developers are located.
A company called
CollabNet,
Inc., focuses specifically on providing collaboration
software and technology to software development teams that
are globally distributed. Their CollabNet technology
contains a unique set of specialized collaborative tools
that help software developers manage not only software
development itself, but knowledge management, communication
management, project management, and security and permissions
management. Let's look at each of the areas where the
CollabNet tool improves collaboration among software
development teams.
- Software development -- CollabNet contains
features that help developers manage changes made to files
and directories. This is done using version control and a
version comparison feature. Users have the ability to
identify and track items that need to be completed within
a project, and have access to a project-tracking tool that
helps identify and track software defects.
- Knowledge management -- CollabNet's knowledge
management tool provides developers with the ability to
find and share intellectual data that is stored within the
CollabNet system. It contains a document and file
management feature that stores all project related
documentation, along with a search features that allows
developers to retrieve information based on specific
search criteria. Results are displayed based on user's
specific permissions.
- Communication management -- This feature is
comprised of three basic elements: mailing list
management, discussion forum management, and announcement
management. These all provide software developers access
to the most up-to-date information specific to them and
their project tasks.
- Project management -- The CollabNet Project
Dashboard gives managers the ability to gain visibility
into project progress as well as associated risks. The
CollabNet Task Management tool gives managers the ability
to view project status and generate real time status
reports. Access to this technology increases the
likelihood that development setbacks and delays are caught
early on.
- Security and permissions -- CollabNet has a
permissions tool built in that allows you to organize
projects into groups. Project owners can then grant
software developers access to specific data based on their
project role. CollabNet offers password based
authentication as well as server authentication technology
when requested.
With all of the different features available in the
CollabNet tool, it would be difficult not to see all of the
areas your software development team could benefit. If you
are in the market for collaboration technology to aid in a
global software development project, you really need to
consider the benefits CollabNet can offer. Visit CollabNet
today to learn more about their
collaborative tools for software engineering.
About the Author
Lynn Marotta is a successful freelance writer and
contributor to Web-Conferencing-Zone.com. Your
definitive guide to
web conferencing services,
online collaboration software and
web meetings for business.
Also See: [
What are
some of the major benefits for having virtual teams? ]
[ Etiquette of
teleconferences when conferencing via phone, web, or video ]
[ Intranet
teleconferencing software, benefits of the Intranet for
business ]
Home Page:
[ Web-Conferencing-Zone.com ]
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