Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2002 21:15:41 -0400 From: Withall Subject: SPIN Meeting Announcement - Tuesday June 18, 2002 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Our meeting location is at The MITRE Corporation! Note: Our meeting will be held in our "regular" Building S location. Directions are at the end of this announcement. Because of security concerns, you'll need a Picture ID. And it's best to leave all carrying bags, backpacks, and briefcases in your car. Any items you do bring with you will be opened and inspected when you arrive. Special Note: Elections will be held at this month's meeting. See our web site (www.bostonspin.org ) for list of candidates. Topic: Achieving CMM Level 2 and Beyond Speaker: Judi Brodman, LOGOS International, Inc. with Steve Hannigan, Battelle When: Tuesday, June 18, 2002. 6:00pm-8:30pm 6:00-7:00 SIGs, Networking and Round Tables 7:00-7:10 Announcements 7:10-8:10 Presentation 8:10-8:30 Questions and Answers Where: The MITRE Corporation 202 Burlington Rd. (Rt. 62), Building M Bedford, MA 01730 Who: Everyone (Industry, Government, Academia). Boston SPIN meetings are free. No RSVP is necessary. For SPIN info: Contact Linda McInnis, LindaMcInnis@yahoo.com Cancellations (including weather cancellations): Starting at 3pm, we'll notify you via email to the SPIN distribution list, we'll post the notice on the SPIN web page, and we'll send the cancellation announcement to Channel 7 TV and WRKO AM 680. ________________________________________________________________________________ SPEAKER Topic: Achieving CMM Level 2 and Beyond Speaker: Judi Brodman, LOGOS International, Inc. with Steve Hannigan, Battelle Abstract: Since late 1998, the Battelle Cambridge Office (BCA), with the help of LOGOS International, Inc. (LOGOS),has been working towards achieving a Level 2/Level 3 maturity rating using the CMMSM, the Software Engineering Institute's model for software process improvement. BCA is a small organization with diverse types of software projects - Level-of-Effort, fixed price, maintenance upgrades, and new e-based developments. How did such a diverse,small organization reach Level 2 and beyond? In this presentation, Battelle outlines the road that was taken starting with a mini-assessment, including training, process capture and development, process rollout to the organization, and tool support. LOGOS discusses the use of assessments (mini, gap, CBA-IPI); lessons learned - starting with someone else's process artifacts, setting up an SEPG in a Level 1 organization, using training to hone the process; causing cultural change; reaching for Level 3 from Level 1. The above experiences, presented from both Battelle's and LOGOS' perspective, should aid attendees in making informed choices along the way to higher levels of maturity,to learn what techniques/tools accelerate or decelerate the maturity process, to learn how to inspire the organization to strive for a disciplined process and improvement. About the Speakers: Judi Brodman, LOGOS International, Inc. with Steve Hannigan, Battelle Judith G. Brodman is the Chief Executive Officer of LOGOS International, Inc. Since 1991, she has concentrated on consulting, training, and research in software process improvement (SPI) and project management. Under contract to the Air Force, she tailored the SEI's CMM and conducted research into the return-on-investment from SPI initiatives. Her co-authored book, The LOGOS Tailored CMMSM for Small Businesses, Small Organizations, and Small Projects, is based on her research and consulting experience. She is currently working with organizations to solve organization's and project's SPI challenges through the use of innovative techniques, her extensive knowledge of the SW-CMM, training, and LOGOS proprietary as well as SEI's CBA-IPI assessments. She is also a trained Software Capability Evaluator. Judi is a member of the Boston SPIN Steering Committee, co-editor of the SPIN Newsletter, co-founder of the Boston SPIN and author of the 'Dear SPIN doctor' column. http://www.logos-intl.com Steven T. Hannigan is the Information Systems Engineering Manager for Battelle Memorial Institute's Cambridge, MA Office. Since 1993, he has concentrated on managing software projects for government clients. He has applied disciplined project management and software process improvement practices to his projects. He has championed his office's efforts to achieve Level 2 and has been chairing his software process improvement group. Previously, he had experience as a technical project manager and systems analyst in the financial services and semiconductor industries. ________________________________________________________________________________ ROUNDTABLE Roundtables are focused group or "birds-of-a-feather" discussions, with a Facilitator to stimulate and moderate discussion. Please join us for a lively series of discussions during the Networking portion of the SPIN meeting, before the speaker. Choose the topic of your choice, but come early. The Facilitators will determine the number of participants, and "first come, first served." The Roundtable Program begins at 6:00 PM. It is usually designed to provide discussion topics aligned with our speaker's topic. Judi Brodman and Steve Hannigan will address "Achieving CMM Level 2 and Beyond." Come share your experience and concerns with other software professionals from New England. We look forward to your participation. 1. Process Improvement Forum - Procedure Writing Leaders: Judi Brodman & Brian Munier This month's SPI roundtable will have a guest facilitator to help with decisions on procedures: What organizational procedures are helpful What should be included in a procedure What can you write as a practice What is a guideline Brian Munier's company, Battelle, has published a book on procedure writing, Procedure Writing - Principles and Practices. Come and add your experience or learn from others! 2. Job Seekers Forum Leader/Host: Michael Brother 3. The Team Software Process, Personal Software Process and the Challenge of Cultural Change Facilitator: J. Erik Hemdal The Team Software Process developed as a "next-step" for organizations that adopted PSP. Adapted for team use, it's an extension of the Level 5 PSP process. Discussion will include questions, experiences, advice, and lessons learned about applying TSP, with the following topics: Who has tried TSP "on top of" PSP? Has anyone gone straight to TSP? Arguments for and against TSP. Successes and failures with TSP. Suggestions/advice/discussion about applying TSP. A written overview about TSP will be available for participants. 4. Selling Developers Facilitator - H. S. Lahman New technologies, practices and paradigms appear in our industry with dizzying regularity. When an organization wants to adopt something new, it needs to persuade developers that they should adapt to it. This roundtable would focus on techniques for getting dev elopers on board for changes in the development environment. 5. Boston SPIN Software Testing Forum, Combined with Book Club Discussion. Facilitators: Barbara Purchia, Paul Piper Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing (A People-Oriented Approach) - by William Perry and Randall Rice ________________________________________________________________________________ BOOK CLUB The Software Testing Forum will join the Book Club in June June 18, 2002 Selection Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing: A People-Oriented Approach by William E. Perry and Randall W. Rice Book Description Software testers require people-oriented skills to survive what can often be a lose-lose relationship with developers and managers. Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing goes beyond the technical skillsets required for effective testing to address the political realities that can't be solved by technical knowledge alone. Authors Perry and Rice compile a "top ten" list of the challenges faced by testers and offer tactics for success. The challenges illustrate the way testing fits into the context of software development and how testers can manage expectations and improve communication with managers, developers, and customers. The text features a self-assessment for testing skills and an action plan for improving the testing process. Topics include training, acquiring management support, obtaining tools, communicating with customers, managing changing requirements, marketing the importance of testing, testing what's thrown over the wall, controlling the scope of testing, teaching developers to test, and handling the delicate situation of reporting defects. The Top Ten People Challenges Facing Testers Are: Challenge #10: Getting Trained in Testing Challenge #9: Building Relationships with Developers Challenge #8: Testing Without Tools Challenge #7: Explaining Testing to Managers Challenge #6: Communicating with Customers -- And Users Challenge #5: Making Time for Testing Challenge #4: Testing What's Thrown Over the Wall Challenge #3: Hitting a Moving Target Challenge #2: Fighting a Lose-Lose Situation Challenge #1: Having to Say No Come and join us on June 18 for a lively discussion of a very interesting and timely book!! =============================================================================== Directions: Directions are attached to this message to ensure that you get our location. A map can be found on our web site - www.bostonspin.org. Coming from 128 South or North 1. Take Exit 32A onto Route 3 North. 2. Proceed two miles on Route 3 North and take the first Exit 26 (for Route 62 Bedford). 3. Go down the ramp to the traffic signal. Continue straight across Route 62 onto Crosby Drive. 4. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 5. Follow the driveway, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 6. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. From New Hampshire 1 Take Route 3 South to Exit 26 (for Route 62 Bedford). 2. Turn Left on Route 62. 3. After going under Route 3 take a left at the traffic signal onto Crosby Drive. 4. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 5. Follow the driveway, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 6. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. From Logan Airport 1. Go through tunnel to Route 93 North. 2. Take Route 93 North eleven miles to Exit 37B (Route 128 (I-95) South). 3. Take Route 128 (I-95) South six miles to Exit 32A (Route 3 North). 4. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 5. Follow the driveway, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 6. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in.