Software Process Improvement ( Impacting the Bottom Line by using Powerful “ Solutions ” )

This paper examines only just a few, but extremely impressive examples of “successful Software Process Improvement (SPI),” a highly controversial and much disputed field. SPI is the discipline of characterizing, defining, measuring, and improving software management and engineering processes, leading to successful software engineering management, higher product quality, greater product innovation, faster cycle times, and lower development costs, simultaneously. The case studies, examples, information, and data examined in this paper were the result of a notion called “using powerful solutions.” Powerful SPI solutions are examined here and others introduced, in order to lead the way and encourage others that have not been successful with SPI, or have yet to try SPI, to use high leverage strategies as methods of making quantum leaps forward in bottom line organizational performance. This paper represents a significant departure from traditional SPI methods, in that it simply advises organizations to use universal SPI solutions that are guaranteed to work. Traditional SPI methods direct unskilled and inexperienced individuals to embark on long and indefinite journeys to invent homegrown and highly individualized solutions, having no chance to succeed.