An Exploratory Study of Software Evolution and Quality: Before, during and after a Transfer

In the light of globalization it is not uncommon that different teams from different locations get involved in the development of a software product during its evolution. However, empirical evidence that demonstrates the effect of changing team members on software quality is scarce. In this paper, we investigate quality of a software product, across subsequent software releases, that was first developed in one location of Ericsson, a large multinational corporation, then jointly with an offshore location of the same company, and finally transferred offshore. To get a better understanding multiple data sources are used in the analysis: qualitative data, consisting of interviews and documentation, and quantitative data, consisting of release history and defect statistics. Our findings confirm an initial decline in efficiency and quality after a transfer, and highlight the areas of concern for companies that are considering transferring their product development from experienced teams to those having limited or no previous engagement with the product.