Small enterprises will be able to implement CMM?
China has about 7,000 software companies, with an average of 30 officers who have no need for the SMEs through the CMM assessment?
No matter how large or small and medium enterprises, and achieved CMM certification is not a software process improvement. As long as companies have a certain standard, and this specification is suitable for enterprise software development process, then do not have to conduct a formal CMM of the CBA-IPI assessment.
Zheng Renjie (CMM Application of Science and Technology Promotion Team Leader): implementation of the CMM is to improve the software process, this is regardless of company size. Of course, passing the CMM assessment expensive, inconvenient, if small businesses bear these costs, it can do so, focusing on improving the process of their own, do not spend money to hire people to do assessments, so the cost will be relatively small.
ZHOU Bosheng (Saibai Ke technical director of the company was SEI authorized appraiser): We understand that the international implementation of CMM, and the smallest software companies that only four persons, there are 12 people, four of enterprises in the Netherlands, 12 in Japan.
I agree with the views of Professor Cheng, CMM process improvement emphasis. Small enterprises to implement CMM, can themselves do first up, spend a little money, but the results achieved with the implementation of CMM compared with this very value of money to spend.
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In fact, this problem can be divided into several aspects:
The purpose of CMM CMM assessment can be used to assess a software development organization's software process capability (external use), also can be used to plan, guide the development process improvements (internal use). CMM to mature and immature full course of the process to distinguish.
CMM Another purpose is to help software companies on the software engineering process management and improvement, enhance development and improve the ability to preserve and promote the wealth of organizational processes, which can be on time and within budget to develop high quality software. There are also expanded awareness, expansion of overseas markets, financing listing effect.
CMM assessment methodology for the organization now has developed a number of CMM assessment method, which recognized three ways: First, CBA-IPI assessment, and second, Mini-Assessment assessment, third, SCE evaluation.
CBA-IPI (CMM Based Appraisal for Internal Process Improvement, Internal Process Improvement CMM-based assessment method) is designed for organizations for internal process improvement and established a set of CMM maturity level assessment method, which is based on past participation or SEI observed assessment of software based on the organization, according to a set of maturity Framework assessment, which is the sense we usually speak of the assessment.
Mini-Assessment (small-scale assessment), CBA-IPI method is based on a simple assessment method is a quick way, but not very accurate description of organization's strengths and weaknesses. Pre-assessment test is usually used to progress or to determine where to start process improvement program. After pre-assessment can be formal internal process improvement evaluation and the strengths and weaknesses of the process have a more accurate understanding of practical exercises can also be a way to improve the group's members a "two-way" training.
SCE (Software Capability Evaluations, Software Capability Evaluation) for selecting and monitoring sub-contractor's CMM assessment can be made in the formal contracting business decision, evaluating the potential risk and options for software vendors and management of potential problems edge, and thus make informed choices and effective provider of risk management.
Selection of small business enterprise funds, if not strong, may not have formal CBA-IPI assessment. Recommended, as Professor Cheng put it, their software development process to improve the business and make a suitable enterprise software development specifications, and then small-scale assessment of CMM model, and then after a period of trial, continuous improvement. If SMEs have some money, and the software process has a certain specification, then consider the conditions permit to do process improvement expert consultant to help process improvement. Although the cost of this will be a little more, but improved in the process, either from the software development process or on the company's future profits will increase significantly.
How to ensure that the assessment of quality?
The beginning of our business contacts CMM2 level, I found a problem, CMM's mission is to improve through the process to ensure software product quality. In this process, there are many assessment activities, but how to ensure quality assessment?
Accreditation is a standardized and institutionalized the process of software development companies indispensable part. Because software development is the crystallization of collective wisdom and efforts, the capacity of any individual on its own is difficult to properly complete a software project. Quality assurance review must be 8:00.
Zheng Renjie: This is a good question. Assessment review to see how to do what I am testing the review with the same view, the meaning is to change the development process which can not only test, do not do the assessment of the state. Assessment is critical, we must work hard. Generally speaking, we do CMM, head to be fitted with a thing is, the process improvement cycle. To check the process improvement cycle itself is not measured then get back on over, see test has no effect.
Wu Chaoying (Saibai Ke technical director of the company was authorized appraisers SEI): CMM assessment in which, especially in the CMM3 level is a key process in that it played a significant role, not simply to open a review would be finished. This assessment process should be a good definition of the effect depends on the assessment measure. After the assessment done, how well do the assessment process, assessment, good or bad, an assessment will be open at that time, and then through the products after delivery, then the assessment results, it is a process.
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Some domestic companies in the software development process have done the assessment, but assessment of the results far from expected results. The reason is:
Formality is a mere formality on some assessment of the assessment, such assessment does not really grasp the essence and importance of the assessment. Only a few project-related or unrelated people get together and listen to some of the project sponsor work products of the project development report, without in-depth discussion. In the absence of each Shen Ping personnel point of view that the premise, fill in a few forms, then sign trouble.
Shen Ping staff is not prepared before the assessment is not fully reading and analysis of products were evaluated, so the actual assessment process, can not express the views of more profound meaning.
Good and effective assessment of the eight points of the first, the responsibility must be clearly defined roles and responsibilities of review team members. Once the assessment of responsibility is the assessment of staff instead of adjudication officers. Second, the prepared and the assessment materials have been documented, there must be application of effective assessment checklist should be made at least two or three world so that reviewers can fully research material. Third, there is a type of complete and authoritative assessment of the team, where members of the technologies, applications, markets, customers and so more proficient. Fourth, we must develop a rigorous evaluation system, there must be strict accreditation management process. Fifth, participants must have a clear view of the field assessment. Sixth, both the work product review, or periodic assessment must have clear and effective assessment results. Seventh, the assessment results must be followed in the assessment by the continuation of the work is the next step can be done in full accordance with assessment results. Eighth, the officer should review the evaluation, including assessment of problems or defects found in the quantity, quality and prepared presentations. After each of the three assessment should be based on the reviewers than adequate replacement indicators.
Elite team composed of staff necessary to implement CMM it?
If the project is used in the elite group of officers, there is need to implement the CMM it? These elites are able to develop high quality software products?
Project does not guarantee a smooth elite software process improvement, implementation of the CMM is not a dispensable thing. If you do not have good managers and organizers of the elite team in the more developed can not guarantee the product will definitely be of good quality.
Wu Chaoying: everyone is elite, so when the product certainly has an advantage, but we do software required is cooperation. Then from the fact of view, we can not guarantee that software companies now are the elite team, but can make the incomplete implementation of CMM is the elite of the elite teams play the effect.
ZHOU Bosheng: software engineering require a group of co-ordinated, highly personal, not necessarily a strong company. To maintain combat effectiveness of an organization must establish a culture, norms and institutions, rather than individuals.
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This issue should be analyzed from four aspects:
First, are the elite of the software project team, whether there is a clear division of responsibilities; work whether there are areas of conflict. Here is a responsibility to solve division problems, unclear responsibilities, they can not play the capacity of elites, but also to some extent affected the progress and quality of the project.
Second, the project team in the software development process, whether there is a strict review system to evaluate whether the activities that it can be implemented, and results are to be used. If the project beginning in the project, on the establishment of a strict review system, and can in accordance with the evaluation system to organize the assessment, implementation of the evaluation, assessment, control of product quality can really be a guarantee, then the project team developed this product should be guaranteed; If the above evaluation process incomplete, or no, although we can not say this is difficult to develop good software, but at least the development process is not standardized, so the risk of the development process is also a great breeding.
Third, the project team should establish a sound configuration management system, each stage of the product should be placed under its management and control. Check whether the file into the detection, or version control, should act in accordance with the procedures or systems. This will leave the organization and the project team developed a precious historical documents, but also for the organization of the maintenance and control of the project has provided a guarantee.
Fourth, is more important that project managers must have extensive experience in project management and project development experience. For the software requirements analysis, software project design, project risk identification and avoidance, project estimates, personnel management and allocation, resource management and resource allocation, knowledge should have a more comprehensive understanding. In these areas, the person is more important resource. Therefore, the project manager should have a strong ability to deploy personnel, so that each can play to their potential elite ability. Staffing well, the group allocation of resources to deploy well, not only the victory of the management of the project manager is also the project of luck and a lucky elite.
Important is the process of individual important?
The quality results of the work depends on two aspects, one is a process issue, on the other hand, is software personal capacity. In the process and the ability to have a lack of personal time, business is a priority to improve the process, or give priority to improving personal capacity?
Business, technical, personal and process which is important? In fact, these three aspects should be taken into account, these three should be combined by training. The process of training people who can engage in technology to better grasp the technology, application technology, this process can also improve the software process.
ZHOU Bosheng: We summarize the experience of software companies is that software companies need to grasp any of three things, one process, one person, and one that is technology. The relationship between these three things in the end how to deal with, some have advocated the technique the most important, but later it said the most important people who engage in technology, have recently been suggested process is important, in my view, process, personnel and technical aspects of these three are considered together, can not favor a particular side.
Liu Chao (Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Software Engineering Institute): the ability of an enterprise is indeed multifaceted. Enterprises should have a proper training program. Training is not just lectures, but also internal training and communication. To do a business process improvement, the first to have an assessment of their own, what is the most critical need of improvement, set to start from this place. Enterprises are often the most important issue is the top priority issues.
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Process issues and personal capacity for the whole software process improvement are equally important. But if the choice must be made between the two, then, should be based on the enterprise's own characteristics and business objectives, an important issue priority.
For most domestic companies, and some experts believe that business process improvement should be given priority. Because process improvement is a standardized behavior, if the process improved, the quality of the product will surely improve, but if only the importance of personal capability, and easy to commit errors of individual heroism.
Individual abilities are important, but occurs when some external factors, may not be able to rely solely on a person's ability to solve problems, such as the core of technical staff left the company. CMM based process improvement objective is that when someone left the project team, the others can quickly enter into the role after.
Process improvement and staff capabilities can be parallel, both of which are not a pair of either-or conflicts. Improve the quality of the product process will bring some improvement, is a standardized organization-level issues related to the company's long-term stability.