Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

An Integrated Framework to Guide Software Process Improvement in Small Organizations

  • Conference paper
Software Process Improvement (EuroSPI 2009)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 42))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 1072 Accesses

Abstract

When a small organization (VSE) tackles a software process improvement (SPI) initiative, the model that is used least is the one that would guide the process improvement. We believe that this is a great failing, because it is precisely a model of this type that is the guide which is needed to articulate all the activities related to that improvement. In this vein, to support VSEs, as well as to guide them in detail when they wish to carry out SPI initiatives, we have developed an integrated improvement framework. We have done this by taking into account widely recognized frameworks and the special characteristics of VSEs. This paper introduces that improvement framework, its components and its relationship with the COMPETISOFT project. Furthermore, through case studies, it describes our experience of the application of the proposed framework in eight firms. The initial results show that it is useful, practical and suitable for addressing SPI initiatives in VSEs.

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

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Saiedian, H., Carr, N.: Characterizing a software process maturity model for small organizations. ACM SIGICE Bulletin 23(1), 2–11 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Johnson, D.L., Brodman, J.G.: Tailoring the CMM for Small Businesses, Small Organizations, and Small Projects. In: El Emam, K., Madhavji, N.H. (eds.) Elements of Software Process Assessment and Improvement, pp. 239–259. IEEE CS Press, Los Alamitos (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hareton, L., Terence, Y.: A process framework for small projects. Software Process: Improvement and Practice 6(2), 67–83 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Staples, M., Niazi, M., Jeffery, R., Abrahams, A., Byatt, P., Murphy, R.: An exploratory study of why organizations do not adopt CMMI. Journal of Systems and Software 80(6), 883–895 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Laporte, C., Alexandre, S., Renault, A.: Developing International Standards for Very Small Enterprises. IEEE Computer 41(3), 98–101 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Richardson, I., Wangenheim, C.G.v.: Why are Small Software Organizations Different? IEEE Software 24(1), 18–22 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Pino, F., Garcia, F., Piattini, M.: Software Process Improvement in Small and Medium Software Enterprises: A Systematic Review. Soft. Quality Journal 16(2), 237–261 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Oktaba, H., Garcia, F., Piattini, M., Pino, F., Alquicira, C., Ruiz, F.: Software Process Improvement: The COMPETISOFT Project. IEEE Computer 40(10), 21–28 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Oktaba, H.: MoProSoft®: A Software Process Model for Small Enterprises. In: Proceedings of the First International Research Workshop for Process Improvement in Small Settings, pp. 93–101. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Weber, K., Araújo, E., Rocha, A., Machado, C., Scalet, D., Salviano, C.: Brazilian Software Process Reference Model and Assessment Method. In: Yolum, p., Güngör, T., Gürgen, F., Özturan, C. (eds.) ISCIS 2005. LNCS, vol. 3733, pp. 402–411. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. McCaffery, F., Taylor, P., Coleman, G.: Adept: A Unified Assessment Method for Small Software Companies. IEEE Software 24(1), 24–31 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Cater-Steel, A.P., Toleman, M., Rout, T.: Process improvement for small firms: An evaluation of the RAPID assessment-based method. Information and Software Technology, 1–12 (2005) (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Scott, L., Jeffery, R., Carvalho, L., D’Ambra, J., Rutherford, P.: Practical Software Process Improvement -The IMPACT Project. In: Proceedings of the Australian Software Engineering Conference, pp. 182–189 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Calvo-Manzano, J.A., Cuevas, G., San Feliu, T., De Amescua, A., Pérez, M.: Experiences in the Application of Software Process Improvement in SMES. Software Quality Journal 10(3), 261–273 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Horvat, R.V., Rozman, I., Györkös, J.: Managing the complexity of SPI in small companies. Software Process: Improvement and Practice 5(1), 45–54 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Casey, V., Richardson, I.: A practical application of the IDEAL model. Software Process: Improvement and Practice 9(3), 123–132 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kautz, K., Hansen, H.W., Thaysen, K.: Applying and adjusting a software process improvement model in practice: the use of the IDEAL model in a small software enterprise. In: Proceedings ICSE 2000, Limerick, Ireland, pp. 626–633 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  18. ISO, ISO/IEC 15504-4 - Information technology - Process assessment - Part 4: Guidance on use for process improvement and process capability determination, Geneva (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  19. ISO, ISO/IEC TR 15504-7 - Information Technology - Process Assessment - Part 7: Assessment of Organizational Maturity, Montreal (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pino, F., Hurtado, J., Vidal, J., García, F., Piattini, M.: A process for driving process improvement in VSEs. In: ICSP 2009. LNCS, vol. 5543, pp. 342–353. Springer, Heidelberg (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Pino, F., Garcia, F., Ruiz, F., Piattini, M.: A Lightweight Model for the Assessment of Software Processes. In: EuroSPI 2006, Joensuu, Finland. pp. 7.1–7.12 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Martinez, T., Pino, F., León, E., Garcia, F., Piattini, M.: EVALTOOL: A flexible environment for the capability assessment of software processes. In: 3rd International Conference on Soft. and Data Tech (ICSOFT 2008), Oporto, Portugal, pp. 73–80 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Abrahamsson, P., Salo, O., Rankainen, J., Warsta, J.: Agil software development methods: review and analysis. VTT Publications 478, Finland (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Pino, F., Garcia, F., Piattini, M.: Key processes to start software process improvement in small companies. In: SAC 2009, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A, pp. 509–516 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hernández, M., Florez, A., Pino, F., Garcia, F., Piattini, M., Ibargüengoitia, G., Oktaba, H.: Supporting the Improvement Process for Small Software Enterprises through a software tool. In: IEEE Proceed., SES during ENC 2008, Mexicali, México (2008) (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Brereton, P., Kitchenham, B., Budgen, D., Li, Z.: Using a protocol template for case study planning. In: Evaluation and assessment in Soft. Engineering, Bari, Italia, pp. 1–8 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Yin, R.K.: Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks (2003)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IDIS Research Group – Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering Faculty, University of Cauca, Street 5 # 4 – 70 Popayán, Colombia

    Francisco J. Pino

  2. Alarcos Research Group – Institute of Information Technologies & Systems, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Paseo de la Universidad, 4, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain

    Francisco J. Pino, Félix García & Mario Piattini

Authors
  1. Francisco J. Pino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Félix García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mario Piattini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lero, The Irish Software Engineering Research Centre and School of Computing, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Rory V. O’Connor

  2. University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, Hertfordshire, UK

    Nathan Baddoo

  3. University of Alcala, Madrid, Spain

    Juan Cuadrago Gallego  & Ricardo Rejas Muslera  & 

  4. Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lappeenranta, Finland

    Kari Smolander

  5. ISCN, Graz, Austria and ISCN, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

    Richard Messnarz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Pino, F.J., García, F., Piattini, M. (2009). An Integrated Framework to Guide Software Process Improvement in Small Organizations. In: O’Connor, R.V., Baddoo, N., Cuadrago Gallego, J., Rejas Muslera, R., Smolander, K., Messnarz, R. (eds) Software Process Improvement. EuroSPI 2009. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 42. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04133-4_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04133-4_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-04132-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-04133-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics