Success and Failure Factors Affecting Software Development Projects from IT Professionals' Perspective

During the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of failed software development projects. As such, it has become a matter of interest for researchers who are trying to find the right formula and ways in order to ensure project success. Normally, a project's success or failure depends on how project team members abide by the best project management principles. This research makes a critical appraisal of existing works of researchers and further investigates on the factors that contribute to the success or failure of a software project. A non-probability sampling technique was carried out among software development companies in the Republic of Mauritius, and an online survey was used to collect data. Cross tabulation is performed to identify the factors that impact on the success or failure of software projects. Finally, a set of guidelines and best practices have been proposed. The results obtained from this research consolidate on what has been observed in existing literature while adapting it to the context of Mauritius, where the ICT industry is one of the pillars of the economy. Some of the success factors which were identified were clear statement of requirements, adequate user involvement, and proper planning, whereas some of the failure factors included lack of clear goals from top management and unrealistic objectives and expectations.