How to improve process models for better ISO/IEC 15504 process assessment

Abstract

Since the evolution of SPICE towards a generic standard for process assessment in 2003, there have been an increasing number of initiatives aiming to propose Process Reference Models (PRM) and Process Assessment Models (PAM) in various fields of activity. Although these process models are the basis of any process assessment, the related ISO/IEC 15504-2:2003 requirements are not very strict and can be variously interpreted. Enhancing these requirements would improve both the intrinsic quality of process models and their added-value from the user standpoint. The current revision of the standard is an opportunity to bring an answer to issues that were raised by the experienced developers and users of ISO/IEC 15504 compliant process models. This paper proposes parts of an answer to some of these issues and motivates them through their direct impact on the process model relevance from the beneficiaries' point of view. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.