| Contracting in software business: Analysis of evolving contract processes and relationships | ||
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The “Software contracting process” model constructed above for analytical purposes is founded on the taxonomy of Möller and Wilson Dyadic Interaction Model. The dynamism of the model is based on the processual research approach. The “Combined software development and contracting interaction phase” model was embedded in the “Software contracting process” model in order to give it the specific line of business characteristics. In this study time is a central element embedded in the dynamic process models and time itself is explicated in terms of cycles, phases, duration, milestones and time schedules.
The four stage conceptual model that Ford et al. (1998) have defined was found to be useful to give to the “Software contracting process” model the needed stage dynamism. Though it must be kept in mind that the stage model is used only for analytical purposes to facilitate the study of the empirical material. In the real world the relationship between the supplier and customer evolves and changes during the life cycle of the cooperation and it is impossible to decide the events or the moments when the relationship has matured to the next state or level. However, if the relationship is scrutinized over a longer period evidence should show how and why the relationship has changed over time.
In this study the stages are also analysed, but to what extent these occur in a predictable sequence is not always so clear as the stages can overlap or be absent totally. For example in studies concerning innovation in several cases the stage models have failed to explain adequately the processes of innovation which are found to be complex, iterative and cyclical (Galliers & Swan 1998).
The model above is a conceptual one in its nature and just highlights the main elements of the contracting process Fig. 26. The construction is based on previous understanding and on the data gathered from the literature, it is hoped to give a more concrete and exact view on the focal contracting process with the empirical data available in the further chapters which is analysed and compared with the data to the elaborated model.