Successful Software Process Improvement [Hardcover]

Robert Grady (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1997

Offering a method of improving the way organizations develop software, this guide shows how to plan and develop a core competency in software development. Presenting an investment model for software process improvement, it describes methods for sustaining management commitment and generating a environment that will ensure success. The book organizes software process improvement into four stages: Plan, Do, Check and Act. It then thoroughly reviews the steps to be taken in each stage, showing how to assess current software processes more effectively, and plan and invest to make software development a core competency. It also makes recommendations to ensure that management stays committed to process improvement for the future. Finally, the book describes specific techniques organizations can use to track, validate and evaluate software process improvements.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Provides common-sense, proven techniques and approaches that software managers and developers can use to deliver significant process improvements.This book organizes software process improvement into four proven stages: Plan, Do, Check, and Act. It then thoroughly reviews the steps that managers and developers can take in each stage. It shows how to assess current software processes more effectively, and plan and invest to make software development a core competency of your organization. It presents a thoughtful recommendations for making sure that management stays committed to process improvement for the long-haul. Finally, it describes specific techniques organizations can use to track, validate and place a value upon software process improvements.All software developers, project managers, process improvement managers, senior IT managers, and customers for custom software development.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 314 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR; 1st edition (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0136266231
• ISBN-13: 978-0136266235
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,461,176 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars practical examples that you can use with your organization, May 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Successful Software Process Improvement (Hardcover)

The only book I've seen about process improvement that backs up the story with real data. Useful examples can tune up your software organization with lessons learned the easy way - from a book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remains one of the best, May 18, 2002

By 

Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Successful Software Process Improvement (Hardcover)

Five years after he wrote "Practical Software Metrics for Project Management and Process Improvement" Grady followed-up on the foundation he laid by showing how his metrics-based approach can be leveraged into a viable process improvement program. This book uses the TQM Plan-Do-Check-Act framework as the basis for process improvement. However, he goes deep into the issues and factors to give a complete approach to developing and managing a continuous improvement posture.

Highlights of this book include:
(1) The same story telling approach he successfully used in his first book. The conversational writing style and the logical sequence of the book makes it easy to read. Moreover, the real life examples add credibility and make the content practical instead of merely blue sky theory.
(2) A complete survey of assessment methods, such as the CMM, Software Productivity Research's Software Quality and Productivity Assessment, and Hewlett-Packard's internal QUality Maturity System. The latter two are especially interesting because they are, in essence, balanced scorecards.
(3) Business-oriented - the approach taken never strays from cost/benefit and ROI.

The parts I especially liked included the chapter on software failure analysis (a personal interest), key lessons from adopting best practices, and moving past reasons not to succeed. In fact, if you get nothing else from this book the last part will make this book a worthwhile investment because he shows how to deal with the six most common excuses for not pursuing process improvement (or any other initiative for that matter).

As in Grady's other books there is a wealth of metrics, data and examples. While this book is longer than his other books, it's still a manageable 314 pages and is highly readable. If you are involved with software process improvement initiatives this book should be on your short list.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lots of big picture advice but lacks details of how and why, January 4, 2005

By 

Eddy Parkinson (Tokyo, Japan (ex UK)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Successful Software Process Improvement (Hardcover)

If you want lots of general advice, buy this book. If you want details of how and why to implement "Software Process Improvement" then do not waste your time and money on this book. Humphrey and McConnell both are much better at supplying details of how and why.