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Content archived on 2024-06-11

Software process improvement: recondition information technology

Objective

As with most development organisations, the development organisation of Baan is always striving for better and faster output. The objective of this PIE (Process Improvement Experiment) is to establish maximum control of the Software Development Process within the software factory: Baan Research & Development of Baan Company in a controlled and measurable way as defined by the performance indicators. This means: predictable and shorter lead times, predictable and maximum quality, decreasing number of bugs and bad fixes and improved testing facilities by introduction of state of the art testing tools.

THE EXPERIMENT

Guiding will be the Capability Maturity Model (Software Engineering Institute). The aim is to reach level three of the CMM in 2 to 3 years time. The goal of the experiment conducted in the context of ESSI, is to reach at least level 2 of the CMM and to establish a firm basis for the accomplishment of the goals as defined for CMM level 3. At the end of the experiment the ISO 9001-certification, which is also aimed for, should be acquired.
The issues that will be addressed are: Requirements Management, Software Project Planning and Tracking, Configuration Management, Software Quality Assurance, Testing practices, Communication and Training.
With respect to testing, a number of new tools available on the market will be introduced. The aim is to experiment with the new methodologies and procedures in the context of a baseline project: the development of a new version of the Baan Package. (The indication of this package will be Baan V-Manufacturing ).
This will be done in an cyclic process:

1. create framework of methods and procedures,
2. experiment with the framework,
3. evaluate results.

This cycle may be repeated several times until the results of the evaluation are satisfactory. This PIE has a generic character due to the fact that it uses the CMM model as a starting point.
The PIE will provide a number of lessons learnt. These lessons will bring in a great deal of information to be used in future development processes. It is mainly these lessons that will be the important asset when it comes to replicating and transferring experiences.

Baan Research and Development employs currently 250 people.

EXPECTED IMPACT AND EXPERIENCE

The successful overall execution of SPIRIT will be reflected in:

- repeatability and better control of the software development process;
- clear communication structure;
- clear procedures and guidelines;
- increased accuracy of estimated software schedule (predictable lead times);
- decreased number of software defects after delivery (predictable quality);
- decreased number of bad fixes;
- new testing tools, more effective testing practice;
- smooth introduction of new personnel.

In order to assess whether the goals of the SPIRIT have been achieved, a comparison will be made between the current development process and the improved development process. To do this, the development of Baan V-Manufacturing will be compared with the development of the current TRITON manufacturing package version 3.0. This comparison will be realised by using the known and documented metrics of the development of 3.0 such as:

- Uncontrolled delay from currently 18 % to 0% in May 97
- Number of bad fixes per 100 calls to be reduced by 50 % (4% to 2%) in May 97
- Number of post release defects per kLoC to be reduced by 50 % in May 97

Call for proposal

Data not available

Coordinator

Baan Company Nv
EU contribution
No data
Address
Zonneoordlaan 17
6718TK Ede
Netherlands

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Total cost
No data