Software Process Improvement: A Organizational Change that Need to be Managed and Motivated
As seen in literature, about 70% of the improvement initiatives fail, and a significant number do not even get started. This paper analyses the problem of failing initiatives on Software Process Improvement (SPI), and proposes good practices supported by motivational tools that can help minimizing failures. It elaborates on the hypothesis that human factors are poorly addressed by deployers, especially because implementation guides usually emphasize only technical factors. This research was conducted with SPI deployers and analyses 32 SPI initiatives. The results indicate that although human factors are not commonly highlighted in guidelines, the successful initiatives usually address human factors implicitly. This research shows that practices based on human factors indeed perform a crucial role on successful implantations of SPI, proposes change management as a theoretical framework to introduce those practices in the SPI context and suggests some motivational tools based on SPI deployers experience to support it.
[1] H. Sharp, H. Robinson, "Some social factors of software engineering:
the maverick, community and technical practices." 27th International
Conference on Software Engineering: 2005 Workshop on Human and
Social Factors of Software Engineering (HSSE), 15th-21st may 2005,
Volume 30 , Issue 4, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1145/1083106.1083117, St. Louis,
Missouri, USA, 2005
[2] S. T. Acu├▒a, M. G├│mez, N. Juristo, "How do personality, team
processes and task characteristics relate to job satisfaction and software
quality?" Information and Software Technology, Volume 51, Issue 3, pp.
627-639, 2009
[3] S. T. Acu├▒a, N. Juristo, "Assigning people to roles in software projects."
SoftwareÔÇöPractice and Experience, 24th March 2004, pp. 675-696,
2004
[4] D. Moitra, "Managing change for software process improvement
initiatives: a practical experience- based approach." Software ProcessÔÇö
Improvement and Practice, 4, pp. 199-207, 1998
[5] A. F. L. Santana, "Problemas em iniciativas de melhoria de processos de
software sob a ótica de uma teoria de intervenção." Dissertação de
Mestrado, Recife, UFPE, Brazil, 2007
[6] R. K. Kandt, "Ten steps to successful software process improvement."
27th Annual International Computer Software and Applications
Conference, Hong Kong, China, 20th September 2003
[7] A. Fuggetta, "Software process: a roadmap." International Conference
on Software Engineering, 25 - 34, Limerick, Ireland, 2000
[8] J. H. Iversen, L. Mathiassen, P. A. Nielsen, "Managing risk in software
process improvement: an action research approach." MIS Quarterly, 28
n┬░3, pp. 395-433, 2004
[9] T. Dyba, "An empirical investigation of the key factors for success in
software process improvement." IEEE Transactions on Software
Engineering, v. 31, n. NO. 5, p. 410-424,
doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/TSE.2005.53, 2005
[10] C. A. N. Teixeira, H. L. Cukierman, "Por que Falham os Projetos de
Implantação de Processos de Software?" III Workshop Um Olhar
Sociotécnico sobre a Engenharia de Software - WOSES, Porto de
Galinhas - PE, Brazil, 2007
[11] C. Debou, A. C. Kuntzmann, "Linking software process improvement to
business strategies: experiences from industry." Software Process:
Improvement and Practice, 5, n. 1, pp. 55 - 64, 2000
[12] M. Niazi, et al. "A Model for the Implementation of Software Process
Improvement: An Empirical Study." Lecture Notes in Computer
Science, v. 3009, p. 1-16, 2004. ISSN DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-24659-
6_1, 2004
[13] K. Lewin, "Group Decision and SocialChange." Readings in Social
Psychology, Theodore M. Neweomb and Eugene L. Hartley, Co-
Chairmen of Editorial Committee, p. 340-344, New York, 1947
[14] A. Bartoli, P. Hermel, "Managing change and innovation in IT
implementation process." Journal of Manufacturing Technology
Management, v. 15, n. 5, p. 416-425, ISSN 1741-038X DOI
10.1108/17410380410540417 (2004)
[15] F. S. Santos, H. P. Moura, "What is wrong with the Software
Development? Research Trends and a new Software Engineering
Paradigm." Conference on Object Oriented Programming Systems
Languages and Applications - Proceeding of the 24th ACM SIGPLAN
conference companion on Object oriented programming systems
languages and applications, pp. 895-900, Orlando, Florida, USA, 2009
[16] I. Mathiassen, O. K. Ngwenyama, I. Aaen, "Managing change in
software process improvement." IEEE Software, v. 22, n. 6, p. 84-91,
ISSN: 0740-7459, 2005
[17] SEI: Process Maturity Profile "CMMI® For Development - SCAMPI
Class an Appraisal Results: 2009 End-Year Update." Carnegie Mellon
University, 2010
[18] S. F. Amâncio, H. A. X. Costa, V. V. Camargo, R. A. D. Penteado,
"Gerência de recursos humanos para uma fábrica de software de
pequeno porte." V Workshop Um Olhar Sociotécnico sobre a
Engenharia de Software - WOSES, Ouro Preto - MG, Brazil, 2009
[19] J. P. Kotter, "Leading Change: why transformation efforts fail?"
Engineering Management Review, IEEE, v. 37, n. 3, p. 42 - 48, Third
Quarter. ISSN 0360-8581 DOI: 10.1109/EMR.2009.5235501, 2006
[20] N. Juristo, A. M. Moreno, "Basics of software engineering
experimentation." Kluwer Academic Publishers, 420 p., 2001
[21] A. Zoucas, M. Thiry, C. F. Salviano, "Técnicas para Engenharia de
Modelos de Capacidade de Processo de Software." IWASE 2009 (2nd
International Workshop on Advanced Software Engineering), pp. 11-18,
Santiago, Chile, 2009
[22] M. Kasunic, "Designing an Effective Survey." Carnegie Mellon -
Software Engineering Institute, p. 143 (CMU/SEI-2005-HB-004),
Pittsburgh, PA, 2005
[23] N. Baddoo, T. Hall, "De-motivators for software process improvement:
an analysis of practitioners' views." The Journal of Systems and
Software, 66 Issue 1, pp. 23-33, 2003
[24] A. Raine, T. Hall, "A quantitative and qualitative analysis of factors
affecting software processes." The Journal of Systems and Software, v.
66, n. 1, p. 7-21, ISSN doi:10.1016/S0164-1212(02)00059-6, 2003
[25] S. Beecham, T. Hall, A. Rainer, "Software Process Improvement
Problems in Twelve Software Companies: An Empirical Analysis."
Empirical Software Engineering, v. 8, n. 1, p. 7 - 42, ISSN 1382-3256,
2003
[26] M. Montoni, A. R. Rocha, "A Methodology for Identifying Critical
Success Factors That Influence Software Process Improvement
Initiatives: An Application in the Brazilian Software Industry. Software
Process Improvement." 14th European Conference, EuroSPI 2007, v.
4764/2007, p. 175-186, ISSN: 0302-9743 (Print) 1611-3349 (Online)
ISBN: 978-3-540-74765-9 Potsdam, Germany, 2007
[27] M. Niazi, M. A. Babar, J. M. Verner, "Software Process Improvement
barriers: A cross-cultural comparison." Information and Software
Technology, v. In Press, Corrected Proof, n.
doi:10.1016/j.infsof.2010.06.005, ISSN 0950-5849 (2010)
[1] H. Sharp, H. Robinson, "Some social factors of software engineering:
the maverick, community and technical practices." 27th International
Conference on Software Engineering: 2005 Workshop on Human and
Social Factors of Software Engineering (HSSE), 15th-21st may 2005,
Volume 30 , Issue 4, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1145/1083106.1083117, St. Louis,
Missouri, USA, 2005
[2] S. T. Acu├▒a, M. G├│mez, N. Juristo, "How do personality, team
processes and task characteristics relate to job satisfaction and software
quality?" Information and Software Technology, Volume 51, Issue 3, pp.
627-639, 2009
[3] S. T. Acu├▒a, N. Juristo, "Assigning people to roles in software projects."
SoftwareÔÇöPractice and Experience, 24th March 2004, pp. 675-696,
2004
[4] D. Moitra, "Managing change for software process improvement
initiatives: a practical experience- based approach." Software ProcessÔÇö
Improvement and Practice, 4, pp. 199-207, 1998
[5] A. F. L. Santana, "Problemas em iniciativas de melhoria de processos de
software sob a ótica de uma teoria de intervenção." Dissertação de
Mestrado, Recife, UFPE, Brazil, 2007
[6] R. K. Kandt, "Ten steps to successful software process improvement."
27th Annual International Computer Software and Applications
Conference, Hong Kong, China, 20th September 2003
[7] A. Fuggetta, "Software process: a roadmap." International Conference
on Software Engineering, 25 - 34, Limerick, Ireland, 2000
[8] J. H. Iversen, L. Mathiassen, P. A. Nielsen, "Managing risk in software
process improvement: an action research approach." MIS Quarterly, 28
n┬░3, pp. 395-433, 2004
[9] T. Dyba, "An empirical investigation of the key factors for success in
software process improvement." IEEE Transactions on Software
Engineering, v. 31, n. NO. 5, p. 410-424,
doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/TSE.2005.53, 2005
[10] C. A. N. Teixeira, H. L. Cukierman, "Por que Falham os Projetos de
Implantação de Processos de Software?" III Workshop Um Olhar
Sociotécnico sobre a Engenharia de Software - WOSES, Porto de
Galinhas - PE, Brazil, 2007
[11] C. Debou, A. C. Kuntzmann, "Linking software process improvement to
business strategies: experiences from industry." Software Process:
Improvement and Practice, 5, n. 1, pp. 55 - 64, 2000
[12] M. Niazi, et al. "A Model for the Implementation of Software Process
Improvement: An Empirical Study." Lecture Notes in Computer
Science, v. 3009, p. 1-16, 2004. ISSN DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-24659-
6_1, 2004
[13] K. Lewin, "Group Decision and SocialChange." Readings in Social
Psychology, Theodore M. Neweomb and Eugene L. Hartley, Co-
Chairmen of Editorial Committee, p. 340-344, New York, 1947
[14] A. Bartoli, P. Hermel, "Managing change and innovation in IT
implementation process." Journal of Manufacturing Technology
Management, v. 15, n. 5, p. 416-425, ISSN 1741-038X DOI
10.1108/17410380410540417 (2004)
[15] F. S. Santos, H. P. Moura, "What is wrong with the Software
Development? Research Trends and a new Software Engineering
Paradigm." Conference on Object Oriented Programming Systems
Languages and Applications - Proceeding of the 24th ACM SIGPLAN
conference companion on Object oriented programming systems
languages and applications, pp. 895-900, Orlando, Florida, USA, 2009
[16] I. Mathiassen, O. K. Ngwenyama, I. Aaen, "Managing change in
software process improvement." IEEE Software, v. 22, n. 6, p. 84-91,
ISSN: 0740-7459, 2005
[17] SEI: Process Maturity Profile "CMMI® For Development - SCAMPI
Class an Appraisal Results: 2009 End-Year Update." Carnegie Mellon
University, 2010
[18] S. F. Amâncio, H. A. X. Costa, V. V. Camargo, R. A. D. Penteado,
"Gerência de recursos humanos para uma fábrica de software de
pequeno porte." V Workshop Um Olhar Sociotécnico sobre a
Engenharia de Software - WOSES, Ouro Preto - MG, Brazil, 2009
[19] J. P. Kotter, "Leading Change: why transformation efforts fail?"
Engineering Management Review, IEEE, v. 37, n. 3, p. 42 - 48, Third
Quarter. ISSN 0360-8581 DOI: 10.1109/EMR.2009.5235501, 2006
[20] N. Juristo, A. M. Moreno, "Basics of software engineering
experimentation." Kluwer Academic Publishers, 420 p., 2001
[21] A. Zoucas, M. Thiry, C. F. Salviano, "Técnicas para Engenharia de
Modelos de Capacidade de Processo de Software." IWASE 2009 (2nd
International Workshop on Advanced Software Engineering), pp. 11-18,
Santiago, Chile, 2009
[22] M. Kasunic, "Designing an Effective Survey." Carnegie Mellon -
Software Engineering Institute, p. 143 (CMU/SEI-2005-HB-004),
Pittsburgh, PA, 2005
[23] N. Baddoo, T. Hall, "De-motivators for software process improvement:
an analysis of practitioners' views." The Journal of Systems and
Software, 66 Issue 1, pp. 23-33, 2003
[24] A. Raine, T. Hall, "A quantitative and qualitative analysis of factors
affecting software processes." The Journal of Systems and Software, v.
66, n. 1, p. 7-21, ISSN doi:10.1016/S0164-1212(02)00059-6, 2003
[25] S. Beecham, T. Hall, A. Rainer, "Software Process Improvement
Problems in Twelve Software Companies: An Empirical Analysis."
Empirical Software Engineering, v. 8, n. 1, p. 7 - 42, ISSN 1382-3256,
2003
[26] M. Montoni, A. R. Rocha, "A Methodology for Identifying Critical
Success Factors That Influence Software Process Improvement
Initiatives: An Application in the Brazilian Software Industry. Software
Process Improvement." 14th European Conference, EuroSPI 2007, v.
4764/2007, p. 175-186, ISSN: 0302-9743 (Print) 1611-3349 (Online)
ISBN: 978-3-540-74765-9 Potsdam, Germany, 2007
[27] M. Niazi, M. A. Babar, J. M. Verner, "Software Process Improvement
barriers: A cross-cultural comparison." Information and Software
Technology, v. In Press, Corrected Proof, n.
doi:10.1016/j.infsof.2010.06.005, ISSN 0950-5849 (2010)
@article{"International Journal of Information, Control and Computer Sciences:57526", author = "Marília Guterres Ferreira and Raul Sidnei Wazlawick", title = "Software Process Improvement: A Organizational Change that Need to be Managed and Motivated", abstract = "As seen in literature, about 70% of the improvement initiatives fail, and a significant number do not even get started. This paper analyses the problem of failing initiatives on Software Process Improvement (SPI), and proposes good practices supported by motivational tools that can help minimizing failures. It elaborates on the hypothesis that human factors are poorly addressed by deployers, especially because implementation guides usually emphasize only technical factors. This research was conducted with SPI deployers and analyses 32 SPI initiatives. The results indicate that although human factors are not commonly highlighted in guidelines, the successful initiatives usually address human factors implicitly. This research shows that practices based on human factors indeed perform a crucial role on successful implantations of SPI, proposes change management as a theoretical framework to introduce those practices in the SPI context and suggests some motivational tools based on SPI deployers experience to support it.
", keywords = "Change management, human factors, motivation, software process improvement.", volume = "5", number = "2", pages = "182-9", }
