QW2K Tutorial D1

Mr. Bill Deibler
(SSQC)

Making the CMM Work: Streamlining the CMM for Small Projects and Organizations

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Key Points

Abstract...

The SEI Software CMM is a comprehensive model that can serve as a basis for assessing and improving the effectiveness of software development organizations. The CMM was derived from the requirements of government purchasing agencies overseeing large, complex, third-party development projects. Because of their large project focus, the practices described in the CMM can appear to small, internal, or commercial software development organizations to be inapplicable or burdensome and bureaucratic. Version 1.1 of the CMM is published in two technical reports containing a total of nearly 600 pages. The size of the CMM makes it difficult to uncover the interrelationships among the elements that are essential to tailoring the model to a small software development environment. It also makes the model intimidating.

About the Author

William J. Deibler II has an MSc. in Computer Science and 20 years experience in the computer industry, primarily in the areas of software and systems development, software testing, and software quality assurance. Bill has extensive experience in managing and implementing CMM- and ISO 9001-based process improvement in software engineering environments. Robert Bamford has an MA in mathematics, and has managed training development, technical publications, professional services, and third-party software development. His over 20 years of experience include the implementation of a Crosby-based Total Quality Management System, facilitating quality courses, managing education teams, and serving on a corporate quality council.

Bob and Bill are the principals of SSQC. Since 1990, SSQC has specialized in supporting organizations in the definition and implementation of Software Engineering Practices, Software Quality Assurance and Testing, Business Process Reengineering, ISO 9000 Registration and CMM implementation. SSQC offers HM2, a unique, hybrid appraisal method that defines and correlates the position of an organization with respect to both ISO 9001 and the CMM. The results of an HM2 assessment are a plan and framework for improving software engineering processes and for implementing the requirements of the two models.

Bob and Bill have developed and published numerous courses, auditing tools, research papers, and articles on interpreting and applying the ISO 9000 standards and guidelines and the SEI Capability Maturity Model for Software. Their articles have appeared in McGraw Hill's Quality Systems Update, IEEE COMPUTER, McGraw Hill's ISO 9000 Handbook, CrossTALK, and Software Marketing Journal.

They have presented research papers at numerous national and international conferences, including those sponsored by the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC), Pacific Northwest Software Quality (PNSQC), the Software Publishers Association (SPA), Software Technology Support Center (STSC), the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) and Software Research Inc.. Their courses have been attended by software engineering professionals from many of the country's leading technology companies. Their courses have been sponsored for their members by professional associations, including the ASQC, CSU Long Beach's Software Engineering Forum for Training, Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), Software Engineering Institute (SEI), UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz.

They are active United States TAG members in the ISO/IEC JTC1 SC7 - Software Engineering Standards subcommittee which is responsible for the development and maintenance of ISO 12207 and ISO 15504 (SPICE). Their software development clients have successfully achieved ISO registration and advanced CMM maturity levels.

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