Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

A Multi-case Study Analysis of Software Process Improvement in Very Small Companies Using ISO/IEC 29110

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement (EuroSPI 2016)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 633))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

The ISO/IEC 29110 Lifecycle profiles for Very Small Entities is a relatively new standard aimed at addressing the particular development needs of very small companies. Due to its relative youth in the standards domain there is a lack of detailed case studies surrounding its actual deployment in industrial settings. The purpose of this paper is to disseminate the early success stories from pilot trials of this new and emerging standard. The lessons learnt from these case studies should assist the adoption of this new standard in an industrial setting.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Laporte, Ç.Y., Alexandre, S., O’Connor, R.: A software engineering lifecycle standard for very small enterprises. In: O’Connor, R.V., Baddoo, N., Smolander, K., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2010. CCIS, vol. 16, pp. 129–141. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  2. Coleman, G., O’Connor, R.V.: An investigation into software development process formation in software start-ups. J. Enterp. Inf. Manag. 21(6), 633–648 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Basri, S., O’Connor, R.V.: Evaluation on knowledge management process in very small software companies: a survey. In: 5th Knowledge Management International Conference, Terengganu, Malaysia, May 2010

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mora, M., O’Connor, R., Raisinghani, M., Macías-Luévano, J.: An IT service engineering and management framework (ITS-EMF). Int. J. Serv. Sci. Manag. Eng. Technol. 2(2), 1–15 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sanchez-Gordon, M.L., O’Connor, R.V.: Understanding the gap between software process practices and actual practice in very small companies. Softw. Qual. J. 24, 549–570 (2015). doi:10.1007/s11219-015-9282-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. O’Connor, R., Laporte, C.Y.: Towards the provision of assistance for very small entities in deploying software lifecycle standards. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Product Focused Software (PROFES 2010). ACM (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  7. O’Connor, R., Coleman G.: Ignoring ‘best practice’: why Irish software SMEs are rejecting CMMI and ISO 9000. Australas. J. Inf. Syst. 16(1) (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  8. O’Connor, R.V., Basri, S., Coleman, G.: Exploring managerial commitment towards SPI in small and very small enterprises. In: Riel, A., O’Connor, R., Tichkiewitch, S., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2010. CCIS, vol. 99, pp. 268–279. Springer, Heidelberg (2010)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Basri, S., O’Connor, R.V.: A study of software development team dynamics in SPI. In: O’Connor, R.V., Pries-Heje, J., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2011. CCIS, vol. 172, pp. 143–154. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Clarke, P., O’Connor, R.V.: An approach to evaluating software process adaptation. In: O’Connor, R.V., Rout, T., McCaffery, F., Dorling, A. (eds.) SPICE 2011. CCIS, vol. 155, pp. 28–41. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Coleman, G., O’Connor, R.: Software process in practice: a grounded theory of the Irish software industry. In: Richardson, I., Runeson, P., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2006. LNCS, vol. 4257, pp. 28–39. Springer, Heidelberg (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  12. Basri, S., O’Connor, R.: A study of knowledge management process practices in very small software companies. Am. J. Econ. Bus. Adm. 3(4), 636–644 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Petkov, D., Edgar-Nevill, D., Madachy, R., O’Connor, R.: Information systems, software engineering, and systems thinking: challenges and opportunities. Int. J. Inf. Technol. Syst. Approach (IJITSA) 1(1), 62–78 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. O’Connor, R., Basri, S.: The effect of team dynamics on software development process improvement. Int. J. Hum. Capital Inf. Technol. Prof. 3(3), 13–26 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Larrucea, X., O’Connor, R.V., Colomo-Palacios, R., Laporte, C.Y.: Software process improvement in very small organizations. IEEE Softw. 33(2), 85–89 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Laporte, C.Y., O’Connor, R.V., Paucar, L.H.G.: The Implementation of ISO/IEC 29110 software engineering standards and guides in very small entities. In: Maciaszek, L.A., Filipe, J. (eds.) ENASE 2015. CCIS, vol. 599, pp. 162–179. Springer, Heidelberg (2016). doi:10.1007/978-3-319-30243-0_9

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. O’Connor, R.V., Coleman, G.: An investigation of barriers to the adoption of software process best practice models. In: ACIS 2007 Proceedings, p. 35 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  18. O’Connor, R.V., Laporte, C.Y.: Deploying lifecycle profiles for very small entities: an early stage industry view. In: O’Connor, R.V., Rout, T., McCaffery, F., Dorling, A. (eds.) SPICE 2011. CCIS, vol. 155, pp. 227–230. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. ISO/IEC TR 29110-5-1-1:2011 – Software engineering – Lifecycle Profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) –Part 5-2-1: Management and engineering guide: Generic profile group: Entry profile, International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission: Geneva, Switzerland. http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/c051153_ISO_IEC_TR_29110-5-1_2011.zip

  20. O’Connor, R.V., Laporte, C.Y.: An innovative approach to the development of an international software process lifecycle standard for very small entities. Int. J. Inf. Technol. Syst. Approach 7(1), 1–22 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Laporte, C.Y., O’Connor, R., Fanmuy, G.: International systems and software engineering standards for very small entities. CrossTalk J. Defense Softw. Eng. 26(3), 28–33 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Laporte, C.Y., Séguin, N., Villas Boas, G.: Seizing the benefits of software and systems engineering standards, ISO Focus +. International Organization for Standardization, pp. 32–36 (2013b)

    Google Scholar 

  23. O’Connor, R.V.: Evaluating management sentiment towards ISO/IEC 29110 in very small software development companies. In: Mas, A., Mesquida, A., Rout, T., O’Connor, R.V., Dorling, A. (eds.) SPICE 2012. CCIS, vol. 290, pp. 277–281. Springer, Heidelberg (2012)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  24. Ribaud, V., Saliou, P., O’Connor, R.V., Laporte, C.Y.: Software engineering support activities for very small entities. In: Riel, A., O’Connor, R., Tichkiewitch, S., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2010. CCIS, vol. 99, pp. 165–176. Springer, Heidelberg (2010)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  25. Galvan, S., Mora, M., O’Connor, R.V., Acosta, F., Alvarez, F.: A compliance analysis of agile methodologies with the ISO/IEC 29110 project management process. Procedia Comput. Sci. 64, 188–195 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Clarke, P., O’Connor, R.V.: The meaning of success for software SMEs: an holistic scorecard based approach. In: O’Connor, R.V., Pries-Heje, J., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2011. CCIS, vol. 172, pp. 72–83. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  27. O’Connor, R.V., Clarke, P.: Software process reflexivity and business performance: initial results from an empirical study. In: International Conference on Software and System Process (ICSSP 2015), 24–26 August 2015 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Clarke, P., O’Connor, R.V., Leavy, B., Yilmaz, M.: Exploring the relationship between software process adaptive capability and organisational performance. IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng. 41(12), 1169–1183 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Jeners, S., Clarke, P., O’Connor, R.V., Buglione, L., Lepmets, M.: Harmonizing software development processes with software development settings – a systematic approach. In: McCaffery, F., O’Connor, R.V., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2013. CCIS, vol. 364, pp. 167–178. Springer, Heidelberg (2013)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  30. Clarke, P., O’Connor, R.: The situational factors that affect the software development process: towards a comprehensive reference framework. J. Inf. Softw. Technol. 54(5), 433–447 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Deployment Packages repository. http://profs.logti.etsmtl.ca/claporte/English/VSE/index.html

  32. Laporte, C.Y., Hébert, C., Mineau, C.: Development of a social network website using the new ISO/IEC 29110 standard developed specifically for very small entities. Softw. Qual. Prof. J. ASQ 16(4), 4–25 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  33. ISO/IEC TR 29110-1:2016: Systems and software Engineering - Lifecycle Profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) - Part 1: Overview. International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Geneva (2016). http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards

  34. Plante, F.: Développement et mise en oeuvre d’un processus de type agile au sein de la direction solution trésorerie du mouvement Desjardins. Rapport de projet de maitrise, École de technologie supérieure, April 2015 (in French)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Laporte, C.Y., Chevalier, F.: An innovative approach to the development of project management processes for small-scale projects in a large engineering company. In: 25th Annual International Symposium of INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering), 13–16 July 2015, Seattle, USA (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Economic Benefits of Standards Methodology Handbook. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland (2010). http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/benefitsofstandards/benefits-detail.htm?emid=6

  37. Laporte, C.Y., O’Connor, R.V.: Systems and software engineering standards for very small entities: implementation and initial results. In: 9th International Conference on the Quality of Information and Communications Technology (QUATIC), 23–26 September 2014, pp. 38–47 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  38. O’Connor, R.V., Sanders, M.: Lessons from a pilot implementation of ISO/IEC 29110 in a group of very small Irish companies. In: Woronowicz, T., Rout, T., O’Connor, R.V., Dorling, A. (eds.) SPICE 2013. CCIS, vol. 349, pp. 243–246. Springer, Heidelberg (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  39. ISO/IEC TR 29110-5-6-2:2014 - Systems Engineering – Lifecycle Profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) – Part 5-6-2: Systems engineering - Management and engineering guide: Generic profile group: Basic profile. International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission, Geneva, Switzerland. http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/c063371_ISO_IEC_29110-5-6_2_2014.zip

  40. Laporte, C.Y., Tremblay, N., Menaceur, J., Poliquin, D.: Implementing the new ISO/IEC 29110 systems engineering process standard in a small public transportation company. In: 23nd European Conference on Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement (EuroSPI 2016). Springer-Verlag, September 2016

    Google Scholar 

  41. ISO/IEC TR 29110-5-6-1:2015 - Systems and software engineering – Lifecycle Profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) –Part 5-6-1: System engineering Management and engineering guide: Generic profile group: Entry profile. International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission, Geneva, Switzerland. http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/index.html

  42. ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011: Software Engineering – Lifecycle Profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) - Part 4-1: Profile specifications: Generic profile group. International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Geneva (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Laporte, C.Y., O’Connor, R.: Software process improvement in graduate software engineering programs, In: O’Connor, R.V., Mitasiunas, A., Ross, M. (eds.) Proceeding of the 1st International Workshop on Software Process Education, Training and Professionalism (SPETP 2015), vol. 1368, pp. 18–24. CEUR Electronic Workshop Proceedings (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Laporte, C.Y., O’Connor, R.V.: Software process improvement in graduate software engineering programs. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Software Process Education, Training and Professionalism (SPEPT 2015), pp. 18–24. CEUR Workshop Proceedings (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Ribaud, V., Matthieu, A.B., O’Connor, R.V.: Process assessment issues in a bachelor capstone project. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Software Process Education, Training and Professionalism (SPEPT 2015), pp. 25–33. CEUR Workshop Proceedings (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Laporte, C., O’Connor, R., Garcia Paucar, L., Gerancon, B.: An innovative approach in developing standard professionals by involving software engineering students in implementing and improving international standards. Stand. Eng. J. SES (Soc. Stand. Prof.) 67(2), 2–9 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Laporte, C.Y., O’Connor, R.V.: Software process improvement in industry in a graduate software engineering curriculum. Softw. Qual. Prof. J. ASQ 18(3), 4–17 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Sanchez-Gordon, M.-L., O’Connor, R.V., Colomo-Palacios, R.: Evaluating VSEs viewpoint and sentiment towards the ISO/IEC 29110 standard: a two country grounded theory study. In: Rout, T., O’Connor, R.V., Dorling, A. (eds.) SPICE 2015. CCIS, vol. 526, pp. 114–127. Springer, Heidelberg (2015)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  49. Basri, S., O’Connor, R.: Organizational commitment towards software process improvement an Irish software VSEs case study. In: 4th International Symposium on Information Technology 2010 (ITSim 2010), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 2010

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. École de technologie supérieure, Montréal, Canada

    Claude Y. Laporte

  2. School of Computing, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Rory V. O’Connor

Authors
  1. Claude Y. Laporte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rory V. O’Connor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claude Y. Laporte .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria

    Christian Kreiner

  2. Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland

    Rory V. O'Connor

  3. Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg, Germany

    Alexander Poth

  4. I.S.C.N. GesmbH, Graz, Austria

    Richard Messnarz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Laporte, C.Y., O’Connor, R.V. (2016). A Multi-case Study Analysis of Software Process Improvement in Very Small Companies Using ISO/IEC 29110. In: Kreiner, C., O'Connor, R., Poth, A., Messnarz, R. (eds) Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement. EuroSPI 2016. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 633. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44817-6_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44817-6_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-44816-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-44817-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics