Anchoring-and-adjustment in software project management: an experimental investigation
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Authors
Costello, Timothy P.
Subjects
Software project management
Cognitive heuristics
Biases
Dynamic decision making
Anchoring and adjustment
Cognitive heuristics
Biases
Dynamic decision making
Anchoring and adjustment
Advisors
Sengupta, Kishore
Date of Issue
1992-09
Date
September 1992
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
Software project development continues to be characterized by cost overruns, late deliveries, poor reliability and user dissatisfaction. The Systems Dynamics Model of Software Project Management is a quantitative model of software project dynamics that is attempting to gain some valuable insight into the managerial side of developing software systems. The objective of this thesis was to use the Systems Dynamics Model's gaming interface to investigate the cognitive heuristic anchoring-and-adjustment in dynamic decision environments, and its use in software project management. Specifically, subjects were provided with either a low or a high anchor condition to determine the effect on subject productivity estimation and project performance when confronted with dynamic decision making in software project management. The result show that subjects used anchoring to simplify decision making in the complex dynamic environment. There was evidence of bias introduced by the anchor, thereby causing dysfunctional performance.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Department of Administrative Sciences
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
70 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.