Abstract
The relationship between team size and software quality has been
a long-standing topic of debate in the software development industry.
While larger teams were traditionally believed to be more productive and
produce higher-quality software, recent research has shown that this
relationship is more complex than originally thought. The paper examines
several studies that have found conflicting results, highlighting the
need for further research to explore the moderating factors that
influence this relationship. The research suggests that team
communication and coordination, developer experience, and project
complexity are key factors that may interact with team size to influence
software quality. Future studies should consider these moderating
factors and use a range of quality metrics to provide a comprehensive
assessment of software quality. These findings have important
implications for project managers and software development teams who
need to make informed decisions about team size and project planning. By
optimizing team size and considering the factors that influence software
quality, they can improve the overall quality of their software
products. Effective communication and coordination among team members
are critical to ensure that development efforts are aligned and
productive, particularly when dealing with larger teams. Additionally,
developers’ experience and the complexity of the project can affect the
software quality outcome. Therefore, project managers must evaluate
these factors and tailor team size and project planning accordingly to
meet the desired quality objectives. Overall, the research provides
insights into the complex relationship between team size and software
quality, which can help project managers and software development teams
make informed decisions to optimize their development efforts. By
leveraging the moderating factors that influence software quality, teams
can better understand how to improve their software products’ overall
quality, leading to better outcomes for their organizations and
end-users.