A framework for software sustainability: a case study of e-government and the private sector in KSA

Sustainability has become an important topic globally and the demand for ICT sustainability is escalating. Despite the attempts of academics to define software sustainability, which is a multidisciplinary issue, no single acceptable definition exists. Similarly, current models or frameworks are conceptual and abstract. Moreover, the software industry involves and affects organisations of all types and therefore, a number of barriers to the adoption of sustainable development in SE need to be overcome. As a result, there is a need to demystify software sustainability, enhance its understanding among software engineers, and increase awareness within both the software industry and society as a whole.

Thus, the main aim of this thesis was to develop a holistic framework for software sustainability by investigating software sustainability with regard to the models and frameworks currently in use. To achieve this, the literature concerning current practices in sustainable software development was investigated; stakeholders were examined empirically to reveal critical factors that shape software sustainability; and a framework was then developed and empirically evaluated within the software industry. The framework has been tailored so that it could help to achieve software sustainability at an organisational level in developing countries, more specifically in e-government in the KSA.

Since the literature review revealed a lack of practical tools, the research moves the study of software sustainability from a conceptual to a practical level, breaking new ground by introducing a practical tool. This tool fully supports the theoretical framework which provides guidelines for developing sustainable software for the software industry.