A Framework for Guiding the Design of Effective Implementation Strategies for Software Process Improvement

This research addresses issues relating to the implementation of software process improvement (SPI) initiatives. A number of advances have been made in the development of software process improvement (SPI) standards and models, e.g. Capability Maturity Model (CMM), more recently CMMI, and ISO's SPICE. However, these advances have not been matched by equal advances in the adoption of these standards and models in software development which has resulted in limited success for many SPI efforts. The current problem with SPI is not a lack of standards or models, but rather a lack of an effective strategy to successfully implement these standards or models. Despite the importance of the SPI implementation process, little empirical research has been carried out on developing ways in which to effectively implement SPI initiatives. I have focused on SPI implementation issues and designed three individual components in order to assist SPI practitioners in the design of effective SPI implementation initiatives. I have combined individual components under one SPI implementation framework (SPI-IF) using a bottom-up approach. The framework is based on results drawn from the SPI literature and an empirical study I have carried out. In the design of SPI-IF, the concept of critical success factors (CSFs) is used and extended. Thirty-four CSF interviews were conducted with Australian practitioners. In addition, 50 research articles (published experience reports and case studies) were selected and analysed in order to identify factors that play positive or negative roles in SPI implementation. The SPI-IF has three components: SPI implementation factors component, assessment