An Analysis of SEI Software Process Assessment Results: 1987-1991

This report focuses on the results of SEI software process assessments conducted over a four-year period beginning in 1987. It characterizes the software processes used by software managers and practitioners at the assessed sites and classifies issues identified during the assessments. The basis for the characterization and classification is a software process maturity model developed by the SEI. This report contributes to the existing body of knowledge on the state of practice of software engineering in the United States by characterizing the sites from a software process maturity perspective and profiling site software process weaknesses. The data analyzed are drawn from SEI software process assessments of 59 government and industry software sites. This work is an analysis of existing assessment data rather than a designed study. The participating sites were not randomly selected; accordingly, they do not necessarily constitute a statistically valid sampling of the U.S. software Industry. 1 Overview 1 .1 Scope and Objectives This report focuses on the state of practice of software engineering from a software process perspective, it characterizes the software processes used by software managers and practitboners using a five-level process maturity model developed at the SEI, and classifies process issues identified during SEI assessments conducted at 59 government and industry software sites. The scopo of this report does not explicitly consider other important determinants of software supplier performance such as human resource management, automation, business strategy and practices. A commitment to Improve key software processes on a continuing basis is rapidly becoming a high priority for many U.S. software organizations. Among the reasons for this are: 1. Process capability is being increasingly recognized (across many industries) as a key determinant of performance and a source of competitive advantage, 2. Software suppliers (both government and industry) are subject to intensifying competitive pressures, and 3. Software purchasers are becoming Increasingly sophisticated and demanding. Of particular Importance to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) software community is the Increasing use by the DoD of SEI-developed methods such as software capability evaluation for Identifying capable contractors during the acquisition phase and for monitoring the results of process improvement programs during contract performance. The objective of this report Is to provide a baseline characterization of the state of software process maturity for a group of 59 U.S. government and industry software sites. A clear understanding of current software process strengths and weaknesses Is an important initial step towards formulating plans to improve them in an orderly, progressive and sustainable way.