A process for driving process improvement in VSEs

Abstract

A success factor in Software Process Improvement -SPI- in very small enterprises -VSEs- is that improvement effort must be guided and managed by means of specific process. Nonetheless, many proposals related to this issue have not considered that type of process explicitly. So, aiming to establish SPI in VSEs systematically and coherently, we have defined a light process for managing and leading the improvement process step-by-step, called PmCOMPETISOFT. This paper introduces that process, which guides the implantation of an improvement cycle in an iterative and incremental manner. It also describes our experience of the application of the proposed process in four VSEs, through case studies. The results of the case studies show that the companies increased the capability of their processes, and that it is feasible to implement this process in this type of organizations, by investing an effort which corresponds to the particular characteristics of each. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009.