Towards the identification of the influence of SPI on the successful evolution of software SMEs

ABSTRACT 

Software development requires multi-stage processes in order to organise the software development effort. Each software development project should implement a development process that is appropriate to the project setting. Since business needs and technologies are subject to change, software process improvement (SPI) actions are required so as to harmonise the process with the emerging business and technology needs. SPI frameworks such as the Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) and ISO-15504 have been designed to support SPI efforts. While SPI frameworks have been shown to be beneficial for large organisations, they are not widely implemented in small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), where evidence of the positive influence of SPI on business success is weak. My research is proposing that a new measure, the SPI Key Performance Indicator (SPI-KPI), is developed to investigate the association between SPI and business success in SMEs, with the objective of demonstrating that SPI is positively associated with business success in SMEs.

BIO

Paul Clarke is a Lero Graduate School in Software Engineering (LGSSE) PhD research student based in DCU, under the supervision of Dr. Rory O’Connor. Having completed his undergraduate studies in 1996, receiving a B.Sc. (Honours) degree in Computing from DCU, Paul proceeded to work in the software development industry. In the twelve year period from 1996 to 2008, Paul held numerous positions in several different software development companies, including senior software engineer and software development manager with Aldiscon (latterly LogicaCMG), Delivery Programme Manager and Global Head of Support and Maintenance with Arantech, and Product Research and Development Programme Control Manager with the FINEOS corporation. In 2008, Paul was awarded a research scholarship from the LGSSE, where he now works on a full time basis examining the relationship between the software process, software process improvement and business success. Paul’s other research interests include software quality assurance, development methodologies and standards, project and programme management approaches, team dynamics, process management and realisation, change management, and software engineering economics.