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ISO/IEC 15504 Standard: Status Report

Terry Rout, the ISO/IEC 15504 Project Editor outlines the background to the project.

Started with the ImproveIT initiative at the UK Ministry of Defence, leading on to an ISO Study Group established to develop a standard. A new work item introduced in 1992 and the TR 15504 published in 1998. The standard is now re-published during 2003–05 as ISO/IEC 15504.

Many achievements have been made: 4000 assessments performed worldwide, 45 countries involved, major sectors setting the pace – Space, Automotive, Medical etc.

International standard has 5 parts that includes an exemplar assessment model based on the process reference model in ISO/IEC 12207. Parts 1–4 are published. Part 5 will be released as FDIS around June 2005 this year.

Transition guidance is available. All assessment approaches should use the new standard. Any approaches based on the exemplar model should use the new exemplar model from FCD status onwards (i.e. already).

New work to start in May 2005 is 15504 Part 6 – an exemplar systems assessment model. Additionally a study group is developing a proposal for an organisational maturity framework consistent with ISO/IEC 15504.

Currently there are a number of Process Reference Models for use with 15504. There are standards based models and sector based models. There are a number of process assessment models that are used with them.

Compatibility is the key. Being able to harmonise different approaches against the requirements of the standard.

Alec Dorling, the ISO convener and SPICE project manager gives some outlook on key current initiatives.

What’s happening in the near future? Automotive SPICE an initiative of the major European car manufacturers that has developed an assessment approach and model for application in suppliers is finally about to be release in May 2005. Also a certification structure is under was involving a fresh approach to assessment and certification. Assessment bodies will be able to perform assessments in a number of modes. Assessment results of a given combination of Type and Classification will be offered up for certification against a Target Maturity Model. First certifications are expected in the first quarter 2006.

Thanks to Terry Rout and Alec Dorling for giving a status update.

 

Marty Sanders and SMEs

Marty Sanders talks to Alec Dorling about her current research work with SMEs in Ireland.

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Joc Sanders talks about the early SPICE project days

Alec Dorling talks to Joc Sanders, one of the originators of the SPICE project, recalling some memories about the project. The first ISO meeting was held in Dublin hosted by Joc Sanders when he was working at the Centre for Software Engineering in Dublin. Ireland.

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New books on ISO/IEC 15504 and SPI

Han Van Loon talks to Carol Dekkers about two new books just published on ISO/IEC 15504 and implementing improvements based on assessment results.

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SPICE 2005 Conference Dinner

Delegates relaxing at the SPICE 2005 Conference Dinner

featuring the ‘SPICE Boys’ from Mikron

 

 

The Conference SPICE Girls

The SPICE girls Manuela Riebel, Ines Steinbauer and Birgitte Gauster, students helping out with the administration of the conference.

and with Kertin Jorgi the 4th SPICE girl.

Thanks for all the help – from the SPICE 2005 committee and delegates.

Mobile Podacsting from the Conference Dinner

Straight from mobile phone to the web site.

Delegates at the conference dinner try out the mobile podacsting technology to briefly introduce themselves.

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Process Award

Alec Dorling, podcasting live from SPICE 2005 talks to Karl Wagner from Society of Process Management about the new 'Process Award'

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Keynote: Maximise project success - give your communication skills a tune-up

Carol Dekkers is president of Quality Plus Technologies Inc., and is a key advisor to senior management internationally. She has been instrumental in the design and implementation of successful measurement and function point programs in leading Fortune 500 companies. Carol is project editor for ISO/IEC 14143–5 Determination of Functional Domains. Ms Dekkers was honoured by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) as one of the 21 New Voices of Quality for the 21st Century.

Dekkers handed out stickers before the keynote. Delegates were asked to choose three. More of that later ..!

Project kickoff: First impressions are important – you are ‘on stage’. Offence and defence is normal stance. We need to be consistent. What the percentage breakdown between verbal and visual in in-person communication?  well it 7% verbal and 93% visual. What about email? 75% verbal 25% visual. And on the phone – 95% verbal 5% visual. Communication methods are being shifted around. Shyness – over 88% of people are ‘shy’ in meetings. It is increasing as we are meeting less face-to-face.

What about the stickers? What is it for? If I take a sticker will I win the Mercedes? Dekkers asks delegates to interview each other ‘why did you choose your stickers?.

Time up ! Stop ! Quiet ! What did you just do? So you asked about the stickers – but you didn't ask about the person and their position? So you talked about what interests are? When you walk across the office floor, in a kick off meeting. ‘’Good morning, this is Alec Dorling he is a world leader in assessments, he has made xxxx assessments and now we would like to do this and that.’’ We get introduced by name, rank and serial number.

What did you discover. ‘’Resources allocated to this task was inadequate (Kitson says)! – joking apart – we discovered things about people. We need to deal with people as people.

Types of project requirements:  We present requirements to users ‘un filtered Why are we using 400 pound concrete?

What is a network? A spider web that coordinates connections and relationship. The world is a network of relationships. Dekkers passes round a sheet to be completed. Relationships are a fundamental need. If you have a sheet, take a look at it. See if you can find a person to sign an item on the sheet. So how many you can get in one minute.

Stop!!  How many got every square signed? How many got 4 signed? Anyone have more than 2 children under age 6? Does anyone consider them an expert fisherman? All change. All those on who have x, y, z on first row. Second row if you know an African language (e.g. African English), you have attended a CMMi course, …, …How many can you get signed now?

Stop! If you are in the first 3 rows, stay where you are!  This is very interesting. Someone has all but two signed. Amazing. Why? because we knew where to go. Networking – key to success. It is incredibly powerful. Collective corporate knowledge is vital. Its a small world. No – its a world of billions of people, but they are are not moving about. Very few are active moving around.

Learning to learn: Visual, Audio, Kinesthetic

Thanks to Carol for an interactive keynote!

 

Opening of the conference

Prof. Heinrich C. Mayor opens SPICE 2005 and welcomes all delegates to the conference.

Klagenfurt is based in Corinthia. Corinthia has a focus on high technology. The Lakeside Science and Technology park opened last week and is already filled with IT companies.

Klagenfurt has many buildings of Italian and Spanish style. Many have open courtyards. There are 93 courtyards downtown that can be visited.

On behalf of the host and the organising committee, enjoy the conference !

 

Walk around Klagenfurt

SPICE project manager around town with some of the conference delegates.


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The CCMI Product Suite and International Standards

David H. Kitson, Software Engineering Institute, USA

Terry Rout, the Session Chair, introduces David Kitson. He has been working with the SPICE project since the early days. With his foundation work on the SW CMM and the CCMI, we are in the presence of ‘royalty’. Welcome Dave Kitson!

Talking about the relationship between CMM and international standards.Over the years there has been a move to close the gaps between the CMM product suite and international standards. The next release CMMI v2 is planned for release in 2010.

15504 is a framework standard. 15504 aims to establish a framework for existing models to conform to best practices for process assessment.15504 and SPICE tend to be used interchangeably, however they are not the same.15504 is the international standard.

15504 is in its 3rd generation. The 1st generation was the hard-wired 15504 (the BPG). The 2nd generation was the published Technical Report (TR). The 3rd generation is the published ISO standard (2003–05).

15504 has an architecture that uses  a Process Reference Model in associated with a Process Assessment Model matched against the measurement framework and requirements in 15504.

Regarding CMMI and 15504, the ‘A-spec’ defined a route for close conformance to 15504 identifying the synergies where they exist. CMMI is now defining connectivity with ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 12207. To do this, the CMMI needs to establish the Process Reference Models of interest. So to be more specific, the relevant PRMs of interest together with a mapping of indicators in CMMI to the associated PRMs is needed. A detailed translation mechanism is also required.

Future directions of the CMMI: – to establish connectivity to 9001, 12207 and 15288. Work is underway on ISO9001. Host organisations have been identified.

Thanks to David for an informative session.

Socrates initiative

 

Alec Dorling podcasting from SPICE 2005 talks to Richard Messnarz from ISCN about SOCRATES a major SPI initiative in Germany.

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OOSPICE initiative

Alec Dorling podcasting from SPICE 2005 talks to Fritz Stallinger from the Software Competence Centre in Hegenberg. Fritz was coordinator for the OOSPICE initiative.

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Direct from SPICE 2005

A first for the X-event. History is made.

This podcast was recorded live by mobile phone direct to the X-event web site.

Alec Dorling podcasting from SPICE 2005 talks briefly with Richard Messnarz (see related podcast).

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Michael A. Bragen

Carol Dekkers interviews Michael A. Bragen, Director of Product Development at SPR.

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WELCOME TO THE SPICE 2005 X EVENT