ELECTRONICS 110.10.2000 Hawaii, Honolulu

Qualitative and Quantitative methods in SPI- some experiences ISERN meeting October 8, 2000

Seija Komi-Sirviöseija.komi-sirvio@vtt.fi

ELECTRONICS 210.10.2000 Hawaii, Honolulu

Pr2imer improvement method

•Practical Process Improvement for Embedded Real-time Software

•PDCA-style integration of software process analysis, modelling, improvement and measurement

•Since -94 over 20 SPI cases

ELECTRONICS 310.10.2000 Hawaii, Honolulu

Current State Analysis

ELECTRONICS 410.10.2000 Hawaii, Honolulu

Qualitative analysisSemi-Structured Interviews •Output: descriptive process models (actual process,

methods and tools used) + strengths and weaknesses+Provides

– An overview of current situation– Fairly quick start for improvement initiatives– Good starting point for prescriptive process modelling

– If applied solely, does not give best basis to analyse later the anticipated improvement effects

– Depends on the opinions and expertise of interviewee

ELECTRONICS 510.10.2000 Hawaii, Honolulu

Quantitative analysisUse of Metrics +Provides quantitative basis for improvement

planning and evaluation of improvement effects– Requires mature measurement practices,

otherwise can take too long time to get any results to start SPI

– Cannot be applied to get an overview of current processes

ELECTRONICS 610.10.2000 Hawaii, Honolulu

Quantitative analysisProcess Assessment (CMM, Bootstrap, Spice, …)

+Provides quantitative (type) basis for improvement planning and evaluation of improvement effects

+Gives an overview of the maturity of current processes

– Does not give a description of the actual process – Risk: selected improvement areas can be too much

“maturity model driven”

ELECTRONICS 710.10.2000 Hawaii, Honolulu

Few Lessons Learned•The ideal solution: combine qualitative and

quantitative analysis, you get– Actual process to be improved– Quantitative basis to plan and follow the effects of

improvement initiatives•Some interview recommendations

– 2 interviewers per interview with different role– Interview people from different positions: quality

manager, product manager, project manager, experienced designer, novice designer, test responsible person,...

– The maximum length of interview session is <3 hours.

•Positive, helping attitude is a master key to get sincere answers to the questions!