Date: Sat, 07 Nov 1998 21:21:17 -0500 From: Daniel Forrest Allen Subject: BOSTON SPIN - November Meeting Announcement Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN) November Meeting Announcement Topic: "An Alternative to the KPA by KPA Approach to Process Definition and Process Rollout" Speaker: Carrie Buchman When: Tuesday, November 17, 1998. 6:30pm-8:30pm Who: Everyone (Academia, Government, Industry) Location: GTE, 77 "A" St., Needham MA. Info: See our web page, http://www.cs.uml.edu/Boston-SPIN For SPIN info, contact Johanna Rothman, 781-641-4046, or jr@jrothman.com Abstract: Many organizations adopt a do-it-yourself approach to process improvement that involves forming expert working groups usually called Process Action Teams (PATs). These PATs are generally formed around Key Process Areas (KPAs)-one for Requirements Management, one for Software Configuration Management, and so on. These PATs often fail to define processes that are compliant with the SEI's Capability Maturity Model (CMM) for Software. When they do succeed, the PATs typically take far longer than expected. Some organizations who have muscled their way to Level 2 by PATs have then lost it. This loss is an indication of the weaknesses of the KPA-by-KPA approach. There is a better way. This talk will focus on a role-based approach to process definition and rollout. Three organizations and the results they achieved using this role-based approach will be discussed. About the speaker: Carrie Buchman is the Vice President, Northeastern Operation of pragma Systems Corporation, a small employee-owned company specializing in software process improvement products and services. Previously, Mrs. Buchman was an employee of AlliedSignal Inc. Her last assignment at AlliedSignal was as the software development and subcontract manager for the Single Stage to Orbit X33 technology demonstrator. She also was an engineering manager at the AlliedSignal Center for Process Improvement, an arm of corporate engineering. She was the chief architect of AlliedSignal's corporate-wide Software Process Improvement Program and leader of the AlliedSignal Software Technology Council. Mrs. Buchman is currently a member of the CMM Advisory Board. She was previously a member of the United States Technical Advisory Group to ANSI on Software Engineering and a core team member, management team member, and author of the ISO Technical Report on Software Process Improvement, ISO/IEC 15504. She is a contributing author to the IEEE's recently published SPICE: The Theory and Practice of Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination. ============ Monthly Round Table Announcement What: These are focus group or "birds-of-a-feather" sessions. They provide a professional forum for sharing information and experiences, for learning about other techniques, and for finding out that you are not alone. Do you need or want to share information about handling thorny situations at work? Do you wonder what metrics are most important? Quality, scheduling effectiveness, time to market...? Would you like to know how to manage a project that you have just been thrust into in mid stream? Could you benefit from leading edge approaches and innovative solutions for handling current project challenges? In an effort to elevate your organizational ranking from SEI CMM Level 2 to Level 3, are you in search of Lessons Learned from other survivors? Would you like feedback from the diverse backgrounds (Government, commercial, industrial, consultants) on topics related to your projected career moves ? Propose your wish list or questions as a Round Table and get your information from the movers and shakers in the software community. Round Tables are generally informal discussions, with a facilitator, to stimulate and moderate discussion. A member of the SPIN Steering Committee will assist as Scribe for the discussion. Round Table proposals may be submitted by posting a sign-up sheet with the SPIN Steering Committee Round Table Coordinator, Caroline Starita (staritac@amp.com). Proposed Round Table sessions will be posted for sign-up prior to the monthly meeting in order for attendees to register their interest. When: 6:30 - 7:00 PM, before SPIN Meetings For further roundtable information, contact Carolina J. Starita, 978-442-4004 or staritac@amp.com or see the Boston SPIN web site, http://www.cs.uml.edu/Boston-SPIN