Evaluating Nationwide Scattered end User Involvement in Governmental Software Project with Empirical Evidence

Software organizations may not pay enough attention to end user involvement due to the major constraints of a project such as schedule, scope or budget. However, end user involvement throughout a software project is the key factor for user adoption and acceptance of the product developed in the project and success of the project. In this study, evaluation of nationwide scattered end users' involvement in a governmental software project, carried out by a national research institute, is conducted with empirical evidence. Empirical evidence, in this case study, was collected throughout the phases of software development life cycle such as analysis, test activities, product reviews, training, dissemination and support. Empirical evidence is examined for measuring the degree of end user involvement in software development and support processes. The findings of the study revealed that the more end users are involved in the project phases, the more they are satisfied in the project. Empirical evidence also revealed that end users involved less throughout software development life cycle sent defect more than enhancement or requirement change. However, more involved end users preferred to send more enhancement or requirement change than defect.