Costs and benefits of software process improvement
By: by Karen D. Prenger
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 95
Description: There are numerous problems in DoD software development projects. The ad hoc practices used in the military services and in industry have resulted in unpredictable costs and schedules and low-quality products. This thesis proposes that one solution to these problems is to integrate Software Process Improvement (SPI) activities based on a proven model into software development projects. Both a formal and an informal approach to SPI will be discussed. The thesis will also describe not only the problems encountered in most software development projects, but also the activities defined in these SPI approaches that are designed to solve these problems. A case study of a military project that has spent several years implementing SPI activities based on Software Engineering Institute's (SEI) Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is presented. The SPI activities were implemented in an effort to deliver a high quality product with high reliability while maintaining a high level of control of costs and schedule. This project has succeeded in its goals and the costs and benefits of the project's efforts will be presented.
Notes: "December 1997."

Thesis advisor(s): James Emery, Elizabeth M .Gramoy.

Thesis (M.S. in Software Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 1997.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-92).

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.