Improve

Thursday’s presentations wrap up SEPG for 2010. Thursday is also a day where people get their tickets early to return home and miss out on some well prepared and informative presentations. This year’s choices will make it worth your while to stick around and lend our final speakers your ear.

Here are my picks for wrapping up SEPG 2010:

• “Driver Tree” an Experience Simulation Model for process improvement projects – Stefan Ast, Winfried Russwurm and Thomas Birkhoelzer – As the authors stated, any process improvement project faces issues when trying to decide what process areas would benefit the business the most if investment were made in them.
  • This presentation shares the Siemens “Driver Tree” model and simulation tool used to evaluate alternative activities for process improvement projects. But more than just a report on one company’s way of doing things, this presentation makes the claim that their approach is customizable and that YOU can adapt the methodology for your OWN organization.
  • This promises a learning opportunity with a “take-away” that could benefit all of our organizations. I have had the privilege to work with Siemens process innovators since the early ‘90s so I plan to attend this session and learn again from them.
• The New “Innovative” Era of Business Appraisals  – Renato Vasques
  • Models and standards such as the CMMI, ISO 9001 and a host of military and government standards have been considered the cornerstone of process improvement efforts. And we all realize that one model or standard does not necessarily provide any organization with all that is necessary to drive the variety of projects and product lines that make up the organization’s business.
  • So how do managers and engineers react to CMMI, Six Sigma, ISO, Lean, Agile, SPICE, PMI, ITIL, aerospace standards, telecommunications standards etc…???? This ISD Brazil presentation promises to share some of innovative ideas they have developed and tried out to allow appraisals to be run in a multi-model fashion. The multi-model era is not going to go away no matter how many times model and standard consolidation is performed. Let’s learn from these innovations!
• Towards a Systems Thinking View of Process Improvement – James Hart
  • I received my Systems Engineering degree from the University of Arizona a number of years ago and at the time of graduation, most recruiters did not know what a Systems Engineer was. Some 30+ years later, at an SEPG conference, it was announced that the process improvement world would benefit from more Systems Engineers being involved with it.
  • Taking a system thinking view means looking at the big picture and understanding where each component, including the people component fits in. This is the approach Jim Hart has taken to get organizations to understand how to empower people so they can see how their individual actions and decisions affect the system they work within
  • Come join me and listen to Jim as he shares systems ideas that can help people understand why systems behave as they do, understand the interdependencies of performance, and use “what-if scenarios” to predict improvement results.
  • Jim’s presentations are never for the “faint of heart” but they are always power packed and informative. You won’t be disappointed!
• Demonstrating Best Value in Supplier Selection – David Quinn
  • We should choose suppliers because we can get a product or service at a cheaper cost and therefore our product offerings will give our customers greater value! Hmmmm, it seems like this has become a mantra for organizations who are trying to decide who to choose as a supplier.
  • David is going to challenge that thinking in his presentation and even illustrate when spending extra money is justified to gain greater capability. Want to learn about a proven formula that differentiates proposals to assign the proper value to the proposed cost? Come listen to David with me as SEPG 2010 wraps up.

I will also be providing my opinions of the sessions I get to attend during the conference through continuing blogs to let you know how I felt about them after I saw the author’s in action.

Catch up with me during the conference and let me hear your reactions to the presentations you have attended. You can easily find me at my partner’s booth 416, Method Park.

More information:  SEPG 2010 Agenda

See you in Savannah!

Tim Kasse
CEO & Principal Consultant
Kasse Initiatives LLC

Wednesday promises to bring us a variety of opportunities to learn and share our process improvement experiences. It includes presentations on the Software Process and its future. It includes discussions on Agile techniques, tools, and effective teams. It will try to make sense of Six Sigma techniques and explain why conducting Peer Reviews is still one of the most important life-cycle activities that can be done. It promises to unveil the secrets of SCAMPI Appraisals, give you a glimpse into the future with a discussion of CMMI v1.3 and even let you suggest topics that you would like to have discussions with your peers on. Show up for Wednesday well rested. It will be worth it!

Here are a few selections for Wednesday that caught my eye:

• Software Process – Its Role and Future – Watts Humphrey – SEI Fellow – This is one presentation that is a “MUST Attend” no matter what else you had planned for the early morning hours. Mr. Humphrey, the Godfather of the CMM / CMMI and the assessment industry and my former boss, will present his views on the field of Software Engineering
  • “To be true engineers, we must use operational processes, measure our work, and evaluate and use the data. Until we do this, our field will continue to be driven by unsubstantiated myth and opinion…….”
  • Mr. Humphrey will certainly articulate what he feels is the next challenge for the software engineering process community
  • Mr. Humphrey wrote his book on “Managing the Software Process” in 1989 while he was in the middle of his tour of managing the Process Program at the SEI. Years and many miles later, he takes his place among the greats: Deming, Juran, and Crosby still sharing his experience and energy for process improvement and quality. BE THERE!
• SCAMPI Evidence from Agile Practices – Judah Mogilensky and Hillel Glazer
  • Discussions abound about how Agile software development practices and CMMI-based process improvement can coexist. You may remember that I keynoted an Agile conference with the presentation: “An Agile View of the CMMI” in November 2008.
  • This presentation not only presents these authors’ viewpoint on Agile and CMMI but goes a step further and provides suggestions for appropriate Agile artifacts that can be used as evidence for several CMMI process areas and practices.
  • Make sure that you keep your self up-to-date on the best discussions on Agile and the CMMI by attending this session!
• The Coach Approach – Stephanie Archer and Robert Leinen
  • Why is it that when great process descriptions are developed they are not instantly accepted and adopted by the projects they were designed for? Resistance and the need for organizational change to be integrated with the process improvements are just two answers to this question
  • Stephanie and Robert from Deloitte Consulting present the ideas behind Deloitte Consulting’s “process coaches” along with case studies illustrating the positive impact of these coaches on actual projects.
  • If change happened all by itself, we would all be ML 5!!!! Put the CMMI SGs and SPs aside for a moment and check out the significant impact a process coach can make!
• Applying Six Sigma Techniques to Process Improvement Effort – Kiran Honavalli and Jarred Market
  • Six Sigma books line most of our shelves whether we have read them or not. Many start out by explaining that Six Sigma is the best quality management method in the world because the method focuses the organization on its customers. Well, I thought most of us focused on our customers whether we used Six Sigma techniques or not – but then again, maybe not.
  • Kiran and Jarred did not promise to take us immediately to Six Sigma with their presentation but they did promise to share some practical ideas on how using Six Sigma techniques can increase compliance to CMMI-based process improvement. I am always one who wants to hear about the practical approaches others have learned about and are willing to share, so come join me and learn some practical basics.
• 125 Appraisals and Secrets Learned Along the Way – Norm Hammock
  • Norm is someone who has extensive experience in CMM / CMMI process improvement and appraisals. His own abstract words got my attention straight away: “Want to learn process improvement secrets from someone who has been there and is willing to share?” When someone is willing to pass along his/her 20+ years of experience in our industry, we should all show up and listen very closely! I know I will!
• Plenary Session on CMMI v1.3 – An Update – Mike Phillips
  • What? Another version of the CMMI? When did that happen? Why wasn’t I informed? Where have I been? Well, you should be aware of the intense work that has been going on to update all three CMMI constellations: CMMI-DEV, CMMI-ACQ, and CMMI-SVC. And if you are not as up-to-date as you would like to be, I suggest you get yourself to this critical information session and get up-to-date quickly!!!!

I will be providing my presentation choices for the last day in the next blog so you will want to check back one more time.  I will also be providing my opinions of the sessions I get to attend during the conference to let you know how I felt about them after I saw the author’s in action.

Catch up with me during the conference and let me hear your reactions to the presentations you have attended. You can easily find me at my partner’s booth 416, Method Park.

More information:  SEPG 2010 Agenda

See you soon!

Tim Kasse
CEO & Principal Consultant
Kasse Initiatives LLC

Tuesday starts the official first day of the SEPG conference and it promises to offer concrete information that you can think about and use when you return to your own organizations

Here are a few selections for Tuesday you may want to consider:

• Keynote Panel – Process Improvement on a Regional Scale – Wan Peng Ng, Rafael Salazar Chavez, Barry Dwolatzky – Even if you are not an early morning riser, you will want to get your coffee early and be present for this opening panel session
  • If you represent a country in the “Western World” then you probably think of India and China when you think of global software development. But remember this year’s theme – “Perform At a Higher Level”. Three leaders representing three different countries from around the globe are focusing on “productivity and product quality” to capture their share of the outsourcing market. The influence of TSP (Team Software Process) will be highlighted in their success. Be there for this “how to” discussion!
• Holistic Quality – Bud Glick and Rajesh Sharma
  • Even mentioning quality these days seems dangerous. For many organizations, projects, and individuals, quality is what you have to do to satisfy the PPQA process area and GP 2.9. But Bud and Rajesh have set their sights on giving the topic one more go and making sure that it is not just a mandatory function for CMMI compliance but a strong component supporting an organization’s business objectives
  • Remember, “A focus on quality means a continuing focus on process improvement” according to Dr. Deming
  • Quality comes from improvement of the process!
  • The CMMI has always been a Quality Management document!
• I am a Change Agent: What Do I Do and How Do I Learn How? – Stan Rifkin
  • Process Improvement Means Change! – Over the past twenty years, I have often shared the view that when and if an organization wants to embark on a process improvement initiative, it must also give equal attention to the people or organizational change
  • Stan Rifkin started at the Software Engineering Institute in 1988 about the same time I did and was one of the original thinkers on process groups and what skills they needed to be “change agents” and support the full scope of their organization’s process improvement initiative.
  • With today’s strong focus on CMMI compliance, I highly recommend attending Stan’s presentation and learning about being a “Change Agent” from one of the best.
• High Maturity In Practice: Using Case Studies to Drive Consistent Interpretations – Michael Evanoo and Kathy Smith
  • Since 2006, what constitutes a High Maturity organization, what does a Lead Appraiser look for, what is a Process Performance Baseline or a Process Performance Model has been the topic of conversation, numerous presentations, High Maturity classes, and High Maturity workshops.
  • I personally believe that what has been missing has been case studies with examples that takes high maturity out of the CMMI ML 4 and ML 5 process areas and puts it into everyday facts and figures that can be easily understood and built upon. CHECK THIS ONE OUT FOR SURE!
• Survey Results of Baselines and Models used by Level 4 and 5 Organizations – Ron Radice
  • No high maturity track would be complete without the experienced insight of Ron Radice. Having developed the original concepts of process architecture in the early ‘80s while working for Mr. Watts Humphrey at IBM, Ron has been a pioneer of statistical process control and quantitative control.
  • With all of the hullabaloo over High Maturity and what should and should not be in place, it will definitely be interesting to hear Ron’s input on just “what has really changed in the high maturity community since 2000!
• Maturity Level 4 Results in a Lot of BS – Pat O’Toole
  • Pat has been a leader in supporting and assessing High Maturity organizations almost as long as Ron has and has more than significant experience that he has shared and will continue to share.
  • I am from Texas so I have my own definition of BS, so I will definitely be attending this presentation to understand what guidance Pat is trying to give us.

I will be providing my presentation choices for the remaining two days in subsequent blogs so you will want to check back frequently to see if you agree.  I will also be providing my opinions of the sessions I get to attend during the conference to let you know how I felt about them after I saw the author’s in action.

Catch up with me during the conference and let me hear your reactions to the presentations you have attended. You can easily find me at my partner’s booth 416, Method Park.

More information:  SEPG 2010 Agenda

See you soon!

Tim Kasse
CEO & Principal Consultant
Kasse Initiatives LLC

I will be attending the SEPG 2010 in Savannah this year and one of the reasons is the theme the SEI has chosen to build this world-important conference around.

The theme of this year’s SEPG is “Perform At a Higher Level” and it comes at a time in our country’s and world’s history where solid and higher level performance is needed on all fronts if companies are to be efficient and effective and turn our high quality products and services and keep their customers satisfied.

So with that theme in mind, I took a quick tour of this year’s program to see what would catch my eye and want me to definitely sit in on those presentations. My selections are by no means a reflection on the quality of those I will not mention, but they are ones that piqued my own interest and possibly will pique yours as well.

Here are a few selections for Monday’s tutorials you may want to consider:

• “Organizational Change Management – The key differentiator for sustainable process improvement” – Julie Calfin
  • In a previous blog, I talked about a Change Management Tool Kit that I shared with the SEPG 2009. It should be clear that any process improvement initiative needs not only a focus on the technical side but also on the people side. Check this one out and see what Julie Calfin has to say.
• Reducing the Costs and Increasing the Value of CMMI Reappraisals – Beth Layman
  • Everyone on both sides, the organization to be reappraised and the Lead Appraiser is trying to find legitimate and effective ways to conduct reappraisals and keep costs down. How that can be done is dependent on a number of factors. I will definitely want to hear what Beth has to say.
• The Multiple Quality Models Paradox: How Much “Best Practice” is Just Enough? – Keith Heston
  • Keith’s abstract starts off by asking the question most of us are asking right about now, “Can you really have too much of a good thing?”  His answer is YES! Many organizations starting out on a CMMI journey get overwhelmed with the many current quality models and standards.
  • Keith promises to break down key models and standards such as CMMI, ITIL, and ISO 9001 into their process DNA – quality components to help attendees simplify the way they think about and pursue multi-model improvement. Sounds like advice we all should consider today!
• Agile CMMI: Obtaining Real Benefits from Measurement and High Maturity – Kent Johnson and Margaret Kulpa
  • What is Agile and what does CMMI stand for is still being debated. And Agile and measurement – really? Kent and Margaret have considerable experience in CMMI, Agile, High Maturity and Measurement. If you would like to gain more insight into all four at once, this is the presentation for you!

I will be providing my presentation choices for the remaining three days in subsequent blogs so you will want to check back frequently to see if you agree.

I will also be providing my opinions of the sessions I get to attend during the conference to let you know how I felt about them after I saw the author’s in action.

I hope to see old friends and make new ones at this conference. You can easily find me at my partner’s booth 416, Method Park. We can chat and I can even introduce to one of the best process improvement tools in the business – STAGES!

More information:  SEPG 2010 Agenda

See you soon!

Tim Kasse
CEO & Principal Consultant
Kasse Initiatives LLC