1 Torgeir Dingsøyr, Department of Computer and Information Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway. [email protected] Abstract  This paper describes the learning goals and organisation of a course in software process improvement given at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and what we see as the learning improvement after introducing a...

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One of the more important steps in starting a process improvement initiative is to determine the appropriate tasking and the scope of the process improvement program. There is great temptation for an organization to attempt to take on too much too fast, especially if it feels that it must catch up to its competition. For example, an organization will assess its capability against all of the Key...

In the last decade, there has been much interest in the software process as a vehicle to improve software production. Many Process-Centered Software Engineering Environments (PSEEs) have been constructed and documented, although to a less extent tested in industrial settings. It is now time to assess progress and set course for future efforts. That is, what is now ready for deployment, where is...

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In this paper we present survey data characterizing the implementation of SPI in 85 UK companies. We aim to provide SPI managers with more understanding of the critical success factors of implementing SPI. We present an analysis of the critical implementation factors identified in published case studies. We use a questionnaire to measure the use of these factors in ‘typical’ software companies....

For many years now software process improvement (SPI) has been recognised as an effective way for companies to improve the quality of the software they produce and the productivity with which they work. Much work has gone into developing and selling improvement paradigms, assessment methods, modelling languages, tools and technologies. The challenge for small-tomedium software development compa...

By doing any task repeatedly, individuals can usually improve continuously due to the experience gained (called autonomous first-order learning). In addition, they can improve due to the injection of software development technology by the organization (called second-order learning). Organizations have studied such learning curves to make decisions regarding cost estimation and budgeting, produc...

The A3 report is a tool that Toyota Motor Corporation uses to propose solutions to problems, give status reports on ongoing projects, and report results of information gathering activity. In our current research to apply Toyota Production System principles in a hospital setting, we have adapted the A3 problem-solving report for use by hospital staff to improve their organizational processes, an...

n many companies, the Capability Maturity Model1 plays a major role in defining software process improvement. Frequently, organizations contemplating software process improvement (SPI) seek assurances that tangible benefits will result from such activities. Pockets of data across industry2 show that CMM-based process improvement is making a difference in those organizations committed to improve...