Developing Wapps- Wireless Applications in the Context of Systems Development

Abstract

This thesis investigates the process of developing wireless applications (wapps) that are tailored to meet the unique demands of the mobile market place. This thesis topic was conceived when the authors observed negative press articles about adoption problems in the market, many of which resulted from poor application design. These observations provided the motivation necessary to improve the functionality and viability of wapps by creating an optimised structured application development process that encompasses the unique requirements of the mobile market place. The investigation consisted of the following: an action-research study performed at Ericsson, and five qualitative interviews with industry experts. The work resulted in the identification of numerous critical project success factors and development considerations, which indicate that the development process is a determinant of how wapps are seen by users and critics. The critical project success factors are amalgamated in a recommended systems development model, which aims at supporting the developer and serving as a tool for developing killer wapps.