Software Process Improvement in Regions of Europe

Key Words: Software Process Improvement, Best Practice, SMEs

Technologies / Methodologies / Tools: Mentoring, SPI projects, Case studies, Best Practice Guide

OBJECTIVES

SPIRE's objectives were to lower the barriers preventing SSDs from successful participation in SPI by:

• raising awareness of SPI benefits among decision makers and change agents in SSDs
• educating participating SSD managers and staff in practical SPI skills
• helping SSDs to maintain momentum in carrying through their improvement plans

ACTIONS

SPIRE generated, analysed and disseminated significant new case study and best practice material, in order to raise awareness of best practice and its benefits among small software developers (SSDs), and to promote their adoption of software process improvement. This was achieved by using experienced mentors (paid by SPIRE) to guide SSDs through an assessment of needs, the preparation of a sound plan for a cost-effective, small SPI project (funded by SPIRE to a maximum of 15KECU) , implementation of the project, and evaluation of results. The experience gained in the most successful projects was published as short case studies, aimed at decision makers in SSDs, in 4 languages (German, Italian, English and Swedish). Data from all projects was gathered in a standardised way, to permit analysis from which valuable lessons regarding best SPI practice for SSDs was derived and published as a report. The results were disseminated on paper, electronically and through workshops, both in the 4 participating regions of Ireland, Italy, Austria and Sweden, and throughout Europe. The partners were ARC Seibersdorf (Austria), ETNOTEAM (Italy), IVF (Sweden), CSE (Republic of Ireland), and MARI and SIF (both in Northern Ireland). The project was co-ordinated with other ESSI proactive dissemination projects DonQ-SPI and LSD, and was fed into the ESSI Best Practice Library, in particular the VASIE2 project.

IMPACT AND EXPERIENCE

The experience and results generated and disseminated by SPIRE had a major impact in raising the awareness of the benefits of SPI in a significant proportion of the 100 000 or so European SSDs. The impact was seen particularly within the 4 regions, where it substantially increased the proportion of SSDs undertaking SPI projects, but also extended right across Europe.

SPIRE also had a major impact on the 60 or so SSDs which undertook focused process improvement projects under the guidance of mentors. The impact was of two kinds:

• firstly, they achieved worthwhile improvements in their processes, which improved their business and competitive position,
• secondly, their management and key staff were educated in the skills of practical process improvement, with most of them applying the skills to make further improvements after SPIRE finished.

Mentors also benefited from SPIRE through the experience gained in helping to apply SPI in SSDs.

RELEVANT INFORMATION

Project :	23873 SPIRE
Contractor:	Centre for Software Engineering
Information:	Tel: +353 1 700 5750	Fax: +353 1 700 5605
	WWW: http://www.cse.dcu.ie/spire	Email: jill@cse.dcu.ie