TABLE OF CONTENTS Frameworks support process improvement in the systems and software engineering domains. A framework is a set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitute a way of viewing reality. Frameworks provide ways to organize those elements so they can be managed and understood. Some of the most widely known frameworks are described in this chapter. Chapter 4 will focus on the current revisions of the two most widely accepted frameworks: ISO 9001:2000 and the CMMI .
As shown in Figure 3.1, any framework can be used with any problem-solving process to develop an overall process improvement approach. Some approaches and frameworks make better matches than others.
Process improvement approaches require the development of plans that are based on organizational goals and objectives. Plans establish disciplined ways to manage process improvement projects and track improvement progress. Plans should address the following topics:
Goals and objectives;
Success criteria;
Requirements;
Effort estimates;
Resource requirements;
Activities to be performed;
Schedule;
Measurements to be made;
Feedback.
As described in Chapter 2, most process improvement approaches are based on the PDCA cycle, which is used to determine the steps to be followed. A framework helps define the details to be included in each step. Those details are generally based on the best practices routinely followed by successful companies in similar situations. Any of the process improvement approaches described in Chapter 2 can be successfully used for process improvement with any...
