Software process improvement from a human perspective

Abstract

Most of the approaches to improve software process focus on formal process descriptions where models and standards of best practices have been developed; however human factor has been forgotten, as a result arises an important gap between processes as described and process as applied. This gap takes special value in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) because even when many of them are motivated to implement software process initiatives, most of them do not know how best to do so. In order to help SMEs in the implementation of software process improvements, this paper presents how two factors have been developed performing two systematic reviews. Besides, the paper includes one local study to SMEs of Zacatecas. Finally, the paper shows two proposals derived of analyzing both the two systematic reviews and the local study which are: to address the characterization and to create and select implementation strategies. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014.