AS 15504.7(INT)-1998

1 - AS 15504.7(Int)-1998 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - SOFTWARE PROCESS ASSESSMENT - GUIDE FOR USE IN PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
4 - PREFACE
5 - CONTENTS
8 - Introduction
9 - 1 Scope
9 - 2 Normative reference
10 - 3 Terms and definitions
10 - 4 Overview of process improvement
10 - 4.1 Drivers
10 - 4.2 Process improvement basics
10 - 4.3 General principles
11 - 4.4 Process improvement context
12 - 5 Guidelines for software process improvement
13 - 5.1 Examine the organization's needs and business goals
14 - 5.2 Initiate process improvement
14 - 5.3 Prepare for and conduct a process assessment
14 - 5.3.1 Prepare assessment input
16 - 5.3.2 Conduct a process assessment
16 - 5.4 Analyse assessment output and derive action plan
17 - 5.4.1 Identify and prioritize improvement areas
19 - 5.4.2 Define specific improvement goals and set targets
19 - 5.4.3 Derive action plan
20 - 5.5 Implement improvements
20 - 5.5.1 Operational approach to implementation
20 - 5.5.2 Detailed implementation planning
21 - 5.5.3 Implementing improvement actions
21 - 5.5.4 Monitoring the process improvement project
21 - 5.6 Confirm improvements
22 - 5.6.1 Improvement targets
22 - 5.6.2 Organizational culture
22 - 5.6.3 Re-evaluate risks
22 - 5.6.4 Re-evaluate cost-benefit
22 - 5.7 Sustain improvement gains
23 - 5.8 Monitor performance
23 - 5.8.1 Monitoring performance of the software process
23 - 5.8.2 Reviewing the process improvement programme
23 - 6 Cultural issues
24 - 6.1 Management responsibility and leadership
24 - 6.2 Values, attitudes and behaviour
24 - 6.3 Process improvement goals and motivation
25 - 6.4 Communication and teamwork
25 - 6.5 Recognition
25 - 6.6 Education and training
25 - 7 Management
26 - 7.1 Organizing for process improvement
26 - 7.1.1 Senior management
26 - 7.1.2 Process improvement programme management
27 - 7.1.3 Process improvement project management
27 - 7.1.4 Responsibilities of the process owners
28 - 7.1.5 Role of the organizational unit
28 - 7.2 Planning for process improvement
28 - 7.2.1 Business plan
29 - 7.2.2 Process improvement programme plan
29 - 7.2.3 Process improvement project plan
30 - 7.3 Measuring process improvement
30 - 7.3.1 Process attribute and capability level ratings
31 - 7.3.2 Effectiveness measures
31 - 7.3.3 How to use process attribute ratings and effectiveness measures
31 - 7.3.4 Framework for measuring processes
33 - 7.4 Reviewing process improvement activities
34 - Annex A - Application of the process measurement framework
34 - A.1 Overview
35 - Annex B Application of the improvement methodology
35 - B.1 Introduction
35 - B.2 Example: MovieViews’ drive for higher quality

Provides guidance on using software process assessment as the primary means of understanding the current state of an organization's software processes, and on using the results of the assessment to formulate and prioritize improvement plans. This Standard is identical with and has been reproduced from ISO/IEC TR 15504-7:1998.

This part of ISO/IEC TR 15504 provides guidance on using software process assessment as part of a framework and method for performing software process improvement in a continuous manner. The guidance covers:a) invoking a software process assessment; b) using the results of a software process assessment; c) measuring software process effectiveness and improvement effectiveness; d) identifying improvement actions aligned to business goals;e) using a process model compatible with the reference model defined in ISO/IEC TR 15504-2 as a framework for improvement;f) issues related to organisational culture in the context of software process improvement;g) dealing with management issues for software process improvement.The guidance provided does not presume specific organizational structures, management philosophies, software life cycle models or software development methods. The concepts and principles are appropriate for the full range of different business needs, application domains and sizes of organization, so that they may be used by all types of software organizations to guide their improvement activities.An organization may select all or any subset of the software processes from the reference model, for assessment and improvement in the light of its particular circumstances and needs. The guidance provided can also be used with other process models.The guidance provides a framework for implementing improvements in a continuous manner. However, there is no reason why the organization could not employ the guidance for a single cycle of improvement activity.

First published as AS 15504.7(Int)-1998.