Rochester Chapter of the IEEE Computer Society

Presentation by

Henrietta Foster

Northfield Training Solutions

Co-sponsored by Kodak Software Excellence Center

Applying the CMM in Small Companies, Organizations, and Projects

Time&Date:

Tuesday, February 27, 2001 5:30 - 6:30PM

Location:

Kodak Camera Club Theater

Kodak Theater on the Ridge Basement (AKA Bldg. 28)

200 Ridge Road West between Lake Ave and Palm St.

Parking at Kodak Visitor Lot on Ridge Road across from Theater on the Ridge

Follow Signs in Building to Camera Club Theatre

URL:

https://ewh.ieee.org/r1/rochester/comsoc/

Abstract

The Software CMM (Capability Maturity Model) originated as a questionnaire to help the Department of Defense assess the capability of large aerospace contractors to deliver systems and software. While the current version of the CMM was written to provide a guide to good software engineering and management practices for projects in a variety of environments, many CMM practices still seem more suited to defense contractors and large companies, not small commercial organizations. Practices such as "allocating system requirements to software," documented procedures, the waterfall lifecycle, independent verification and audits, and formal training can be stumbling blocks for small software organizations or projects which attempt to use the CMM for process improvement. In addition, process appraisal methods such as CBA-IPI and SCE may seem too expensive or time-consuming for a smaller organization seeking to kick off a process improvement program.

Can a small company, organization, or project use the CMM as a guide for improving their product quality, schedule performance, and development cost? The answer is yes, if the CMM is applied using judgment and common sense to address real business needs and goals. This presentation will discuss the software process improvement challenges faced by small companies, organizations, and projects, along with practical approaches for using the CMM to address those challenges. Discussion and audience participation will be encouraged.

Presenter Biography

Henrietta Foster has over 25 years of experience in the computer industry and has worked in software development and management since 1986. She began working with software process improvement in 1993 and has been a member of three software engineering process groups, providing mini-assessments, consulting and training for Kodak organizations. She developed and managed Kodak's software process improvement education and training program.

Her interest and experience in training began in 1978, when she received an assignment as a U. S. Air Force technical instructor. Through the years she has developed and conducted formal training on many topics, including electronics, UNIX system administration, software engineering and management, and software process improvement based on the SEI's Capability Maturity Model for Software (CMM).

Henrietta is currently founder and principal of Northfield Training Solutions, where she provides training, consulting, and related services for effective software engineering and process improvement.


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