Improve

Process defines how a business does business and may include a set of processes such as:

• Software Engineering processes
• Hardware Engineering processes
• Systems Engineering processes
• Manufacturing processes
• Financial processes
• Human Resources processes
• Legal processes
• ………..

Process helps to establish the business culture and then sets guidelines and expectations. Process can be viewed as a methodology that is applied from elicitation of requirements to design through delivery. There are no shortcuts – there are no other alternative methods that a business can adopt that embraces a “cradle to grave” philosophy to ensure quality and profitability with control every step of the way.

We build the business right – through process. We build the right business – with guarantees of product and service quality and customer satisfaction.  Process is the fastest-lowest cost path to get there and know if you are there!

With models, standards, methods and techniques from all parts of the world focused on process and quality it is only fitting that a process improvement manifesto was developed. In September 2009, a group of experts in Software Process Improvement (SPI) from all over the world gathered near Madrid, Spain and shared their expertise and wisdom from their many years of process improvement experience. Sponsored by the European Union, 30 workshop participants brainstormed core values and principles specifically focused on process improvement. Download the SPI Manifesto @ Here

What to use the Manifest for?

Jorn Johansen and Jan-Pries-Heje, the leaders and chief editors of the SPI Manifesto put forth a reminder on what to use the manifest for. You can use the manifest to obtain knowledge of SPI. It will help you remember what is important about software process improvement. Each value and the consequent principles are written so you can easily place yourself into the problem and context. Short explanations for each value are provided that can further augment your understanding. Each value also has some relevant examples that will make it easier to learn and remember the values and principles.

You can use the SPI Manifesto when you are responsible for planning a SPI project. The third manifest value states that SPI is actually really about change. You can apply these SPI Manifesto principles in your organization’s process improvement project that will support the necessary corresponding change. Download the SPI Manifesto @ Here

Values

• People – Must involve people actively and affect their daily lives not to be focused on management alone
• Business – What you do to make business successful – this is not about living to deploy a standard, reach a maturity level, or obtain a certificate even though it can certainly help do all of those things
• Change – Process improvement is inherently linked with change – we realize and accept that we cannot continue to live as we do today – we must change – perhaps a little or perhaps a lot

Principles

People

• Know the culture and focus on needs
• Motivate all people involved
• Base improvement on experience and measurements
• Create a learning organization

—        Business

• Support the organization’s vision and business objectives
• Use dynamic and adaptable models as needed
• Apply risk management

— Change

• Manage the organizational change in your improvement effort
• Ensure all parties understand and agree on process
• Do not lose focus

You are invited to read the details behind these Values and Principles statements located in the body of the SPI Manifesto and share your comments back with us. Do you agree? Do you disagree and why? Do you think something critical was overlooked and should be added?

We are interested in your comments and inputs – after all process improvement is continuous…………………..

Download the SPI Manifesto @ Here

Tim Kasse
CEO & Principal Consultant
Kasse Initiatives LLC