Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 17:26:05 -0500 From: Daniel Forrest Allen Subject: Boston SPIN - March Meeting Announcement (Final Notice) Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN) March Meeting Announcement Topic: A Tailorable Mini-assessment Method Speaker: Carol Pilch When: Tuesday, March 16, 1999. 6:30pm-8:30pm 6:30-7:00 Networking and Round Tables 7:00-7:10 Announcements 7:10-8:10 Carol Pilch: A Tailorable Mini-assessment Method 8:10-8:30 Questions and Answers 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: Software assessments are an important aspect of an organization's software process improvement program. Many organizations have found that conducting assessments can be time consuming, requiring significant preparation and resources. By defining a tailorable Capability Maturity Model (CMMsm) based software process mini-assessment method, GTE has been able to accelerate the momentum for software process improvement to meet the demands of the GTE Software Quality Initiative. This initiative states an ambitious goal of having all software development sites within the corporation operating at an SEI Level 3 maturity rating by the year 2000. This talk will begins with a brief overview of the Software Engineering Institute's CMMsm Based Appraisal for Internal Process Improvement (CBA IPI) on which the mini-assessment is based. The GTE mini-assessment method is then described. The method includes guidelines for planning, preparing for, and conducting a mini-assessment. Options for tailoring the approach and reducing risk in order to ensure accuracy and completeness are provided. Reusable mini-assessment assets are utilized to improve efficiency and ensure consistent application of the method. A comparison with the CMM Based Appraisal for Internal Process Improvement (CBA IPI) method is made to highlight the mini-assessment's benefits and limitations. About the Speaker: Carol Pilch has over 20 years of software development and management experience. For the last 5 years, Carol has been leading software process improvement activities at the Government Systems Communication Systems Division Needham MA location. Carol is an SEI-authorized Lead Assessor and frequently leads and participates in assessment teams. Monthly Round Table Announcement - 6:30 - 7:00 PM, before SPIN Meetings What: These are focused group or "birds-of-a-feather" sessions. We are looking for topics that you want to discuss. Propose your issues or topics as a Round Table and find solace and good ideas from the movers and shakers in the software community. Round Tables are generally informal discussions, with a facilitator, to stimulate and moderate discussion. Seating is limited to 10 people per table, so come early! For roundtable information or if you would like to facilitate a round table, contact Caroline J. Starita, 978-442-4004 or staritac@amp.com See our web page, http://www.cs.uml.edu/Boston-SPIN to see which topics are selected for this SPIN meeting. Directions: From Route 128 in Needham, take exit 19A onto Highland Avenue East. Take your first right by the Ground Round and take your second left onto "A" Street. GTE is the last building on the right. Enter the parking lot by the GTE sign and come into the building by the cafeteria entrance, which is located to the left of the main entrance. There will be a security guard at the entrance. Snow cancellations: We will notify the membership via email to the SPIN distribution list, post the notice on the SPIN web page, and announce the cancellation on Channel 7 TV and radio, WRKO AM 680. We will attempt to make a 3pm deadline on the email to the SPIN distribution list. SPIN Sponsors: GTE Government Systems, Needham, MA, http://www.gte.com We thank the Computer Science department of UMass-Lowell for providing support and hosting our web page.