Towards an evaluative framework for software process improvement models

Abstract Today the modus operandi for software development is heavily process-oriented. This is based on the premise that there has to be a quality process in order to produce quality software. There are number of quality models for software development called Software Process Improvement (SPI) models, which address this important issue. As these models differ in their characteristics it is important that there be a basis to evaluate them effectively. Such an evaluation is important from the perspective of understanding the particular model in terms of its structure, its benefits, etc. For the evaluation to be comprehensive and systematic, it is important to have a framework (or benchmark). This article defines such a framework which includes the most important criteria for the evaluation of the SPI models.

[1]  Alka Jarvis,et al.  ISO 9000-3 - a tool for software product and process improvement , 1995 .

[2]  Watts S. Humphrey,et al.  The State Of Software Engineering Practice: A Preliminary Report , 1989, 11th International Conference on Software Engineering.

[3]  Marilyn W. Bush.  Process assessments in NASA , 1991, [1991 Proceedings] 13th International Conference on Software Engineering.

[4]  Watts S. Humphrey,et al.  Managing the software process , 1989, The SEI series in software engineering.

[5]  James D. Herbsleb,et al.  After the Appraisal: A Systematic Survey of Process Improvement, its Benefits, and Factors that Influence Success. , 1995 .

[6]  François Coallier,et al.  TRILLIUM: A Model for the assessment of telecom product development and support capability , 2001 .

[7]  Marvin V. Zelkowitz,et al.  Software engineering technology infusion within NASA , 1996 .

[8]  Tom DeMarco,et al.  Controlling Software Projects , 1982 .

[9]  Khaled El Emam,et al.  Spice: The Theory and Practice of Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination , 1997 .

[10]  James D. Herbsleb,et al.  Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Initial Results , 1994 .

[11]  R. Dion,et al.  Elements of a process-improvement program (software quality) , 1992, IEEE Software.

[12]  Kevin Pulford,et al.  A Quanti-tative Approach to Software Management: The AMI Handbook , 1996 .

[13]  Pasi Kuvaja.  Software Process Assessment and Improvement: The BOOTSTRAP Approach , 1994 .

[14]  Anita D. Carleton,et al.  Case studies of software-process-improvement measurement , 1994, Computer.

[15]  Antonio Coletta.  The SPICE Project: An International Standard for Software Process Assessment, Improvement and Capability Determination , 1995, Objective Software Quality.

[16]  Watts S. Humphrey,et al.  The Role of Assessment in Software Process Improvement , 1989 .

[17]  Watts S. Humphrey.  Introduction to Software Process Improvement. , 1993 .

[18]  Norman E. Fenton,et al.  Software Metrics: A Rigorous Approach , 1991 .