Critical Challenge Factors of Requirement Change Management for GSD: A Systematic Review

Distributed Software Development (DSD) or Global Software Development (GSD), today GSD is popular among practicing software developers. This is because GSD has advantages such as faster lead times, a wider range of superior workforce, and increased project cost efficiency. However, GSD also has challenges, including the implementation of RCM. Implementing RCM in GSD requires special attention because GSD has a working model that is applied at different locations, times and cultures for each project team. Poor implementation of RCM can result in project failure. The success of implementing RCM is influenced by the Critical Challenge Factor (CCF) and Critical Success Factor (CSF). In this paper, we conducted a Systematic Literature review to identify frequently occurring CCFs, looking at what methods are frequently used in identifying CCFs from previous research. In this paper, we conducted a Systematic Literature Review to identify frequently occurring CCFs, looking at what methods are frequently used in identifying CCFs from previous research. The results of the review found that as many as 29% of research used Systematic Literature Review (SLR), and in 52% of research, SLR was combined with several other approaches (Interview, Questionnaire Surveys, Expert Suggestion, or Observation). 14% of studies used an interview approach, and 5% used questionnaire surveys only. It means that SLR is the approach most often used to identify CCF, whether SLR is used alone (without combining it with other approaches) or in combination with other approaches. Furthermore, CCF, with the highest intensity of appearance in each literature, examines the fields of Communication and Coordination, namely at 24%, Social Culture at 12%, Management and Knowledge Sharing, and Time Zone difference at 6%. The approach used in identifying CCF is very dependent on the research objectives and research object. Therefore, choosing the right approach is expected to help practitioners to identify CCF better so that risk mitigation plans from CCF can be formulated appropriately.