Low-rigour, Rapid Software Process Assessments for Small Software Development Firms

Rigorous software process improvement (SPI)assessments are considered by many small softwaredevelopment firms to be too expensive. This paperpresents the results from a program in which low-rigour,one-day SPI assessments were offered at no cost to 22small software development firms.Analysis shows an association between capabilitylevels achieved and staff experience and education level.Also, the process capability of firms varied depending onthe industry sectors targeted by firms.About eight months after the assessment, the firmswere contacted to arrange a follow-up meeting todetermine the extent to which they had implemented therecommendations. Analysis of the capability levels at thetime of assessment and later follow-up meeting revealsthat the process improvement program was effective inimproving the process capability of many of these smallsoftware development firms.