Angela Maria Alves

Brazilian public software: beyond sharing

This work presents a case of an innovative Brazilian experience of use of free software in public administration as an emergent ecosystem, and the attempt to establish a quality framework for that. It describes a new concept named Brazilian Public Software (BPS) developed by policy makers of the Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management. At the beginning of the century, Brazilian policy makers were concerned with the limitations of the Free Software Model of Production (FSMP) to provide software to public administration. Issues such as installation and operational support, quality of software (users interfaces, manuals) and bugs were not effectively solved by the FSPM alone. They then shaped the Brazilian Public Software, which is based on code opening (FSPM), but includes some additional duties to the entity that makes the software available. To support and to make the concept operational and institutional, an environment was formed and so a virtual ambience named Brazilian Public Software Portal (BPSP) began to exist. Since their beginning in the end of 2006, the BPSP has increased its number of associates to 84,000 users, and today it has 40 software solutions available, in many technological areas: geo-processing, health, public town management (sanitation, hospitals management, data management, etc). Even software solutions originated from private entities that had public interest as textual database and web application server ambience. The solutions are used not only by governmental agencies but also by small and medium-sized companies and other kinds of organizations. Other related interest groups emerged inside the BPS: 4CMBr, driven to municipalities; Virtual Market focused on services; 5CQualiBr devoted to the quality of the software in a large sense and to the ecosystem sustaintability. Quality and quality assurance are a challenge in this kind of ecosystem. In this work we will describe the solutions and findings in the Quality Framework to the BPS ecosystem.

Towards a Systemic Maturity Model for Public Software Ecosystems

Brazilian Public Software (BPS) is an innovative experience in public administration. It combines features of the free software production model with the concept of public goods and is delivered by a portal that links different people and interests. The evolution of BPS as a Public Software Ecosystem (PSE) can be best understood using Complex Thinking Theory (CTT). The papers describes how methodologies based on System Thinking, were used to obtain empirical evidence that the BPS ecosystem evolves in learning cycles and concludes that this could result in a systemic maturity model for BPS, provide a reference for understanding and improving BPS and others PSE. This maturity model has been developed using an analogy with ISO/IEC 15504 (SPICE) references for capability maturity models. The System Thinking however indicated different path for maturity other than the one based on capability. This finding is consistent with the current evolution of SPICE (ISO/IEC 33000 series) towards other path for maturity in addition to capability.

Quality in software digital ecosystems the users perceptions

Brazilian Public Software (BPS) is an innovative experience in public administration. It combines features of the free software production model with the concept of public goods and is delivered by a portal that links different people and interests. This paper is about the perception of quality by the participants of the digital ecosystem BPS -Brazilian Public Software. The concept of digital ecosystems employed here is ecosystems which digital environment is populated by digital species (software components, applications, online services, etc.). These ecosystems can be devoted to digital content production, business, and academic research. [5].

Learning path to an emergent ecosystem: the Brazilian public software experience

Brazilian Public Software (SPB in Portuguese) is an innovative experience in public administration. It combines features of the free software production model with the concept of public goods and is delivered by a portal that links different people and interests. The evolution of SPB as a digital ecosystem can be best understood using Complex Thinking Theory (CTT). The paper describes how methodologies based on System Thinking, part of CTT, were used to obtain empirical evidence that the SPB ecosystem evolves in learning cycles and concludes that this could result in a maturity model for SPB.

A Process Driven Software Platform to Full Support Process Assessment Method

This tool demonstration paper presents CERTICSys as a software platform to fully support process assessment using CERTICS Methodology. CERTICS is a methodology for assessment and certification of software resulting from technological development and innovation carried out in Brazil. A CERTICS assessment examines the process performed to develop and commercialize the software. CERTICS Process Assessment Method follows ISO/IEC 15504 Standard. It is composed of six phases: Exploration, Agreement, Preparation, Visit, Validation and Conclusion. CERTICSys is a web based software platform that supports all six phases. CERTICSys uses a Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) with a Business Process Management Suite (BPMS) that implements the assessment method. Java and Java Script are used in the client-side. This set of technologies and software tools are fully implemented in a cloud infrastructure.

CERTICS - An ISO/IEC 15504 Conformance Model for Software Technological Development and Innovation

The Brazilian Government established a public policy instrument to identify and stimulate software production resulting from technology development and innovation carried out in Brazil. In order to accomplish this effort, CERTICS software process assessment methodology was created and established in Brazil. Its construction has been based on the reality of local software development organizations, in effort to achieve consensus within the community of interest, and guided by methodological references including the ISO/IEC 15504 (SPICE) Standard. CERTICS Methodology includes an Assessment Reference Model and an Assessment Method. This article presents the CERTICS Assessment Reference Model and statements on how it is compliant with ISO/IEC 15504 Requirements for Process Reference Models, Process Assessment Models and Organizational Maturity Models.

CERTICS Assessment Methodology for Software Technological Development and Innovation

Technological development and innovation are key drives for software development organizations. Furthermore they are strategic for the growth of a region or a Country. Therefore, the Brazilian government established a public policy instrument to identify and stimulate software resulting from technological development and innovation in the Country. Hence a software assessment methodology, named as CERTICS, has been created and established in Brazil. Its construction has been based on the reality of software development organizations and guided by methodological references including the ISO/IEC 15504 (SPICE) Standard. CERTICS includes a reference model, an assessment method and an arrangement for its application, monitoring and continuous improvement. A software organization can also benefit from CERTICS as good practices reference model on technology development and innovation. This article presents an overview of the rationality, design, major components and early practical results of CERTICS Methodology version 1.1.

Developing a Process Assessment Model for Technological and Business Competencies on Software Development

This article describes the design, development, validation and results of a Process Assessment Model for assessing Technological and Business Competencies on Software Development. The model follows the ISO/IEC 15504 (SPICE) requirements for Process Assessment Models. The development of this model follows the PRO2PI Method Framework for Engineering Process Models as a methodology. In the first phases the concept to be assessed was defined in terms of technological and business competencies on software development. In order to identify these competencies the processes used to develop the software systems are identified and analyzed. Models versions have been used in thirteen software intensive organizations.

Systemic maturity model and Brazilian public software

This work presents a case of an innovative Brazilian experience of use of free software in public administration as an emergent ecosystem, and the attempt to establish a quality framework for that. At the beginning of the century, Brazilian policy makers were concerned with the limitations of the Free Software Model of Production (FSMP) to provide software to public administration. Issues such as installation and operational support, quality of software (users interfaces, manuals) and bugs were not effectively solved by the FSPM alone. They then shaped the Brazilian Public Software, which is based on code opening (FSPM), but includes some additional duties to the entity that makes the software available. To support and to make the concept operational and institutional, an environment was formed and so a virtual ambience named Brazilian Public Software Portal (BPSP) began to exist. Since their beginning in the end of 2006, the BPSP1 has increased its number of associates to 84,000 users, and today it has 40 software solutions available, in many technological areas: geo-processing, health, public town management (sanitation, hospitals management, data management, etc). Even software solutions originated from private entities that had public interest as textual database and web application server ambience. The solutions are used not only by governmental agencies but also by small and medium-sized companies and other kinds of organizations. Other related interest groups emerged inside the BPS: 4CMBr, driven to municipalities; Virtual Market focused on services; 5CQualiBr devoted to the quality of the software in a large sense and to the ecosystem sustaintability. Quality and quality assurance are a challenge in this kind of ecosystem.

Proposal for a framework for quality measurement to the SPB – Brazilian Public Software

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the development of a conceptual framework to drive and assess the quality of software production in the digital ecosystem domain. Design/methodology/approach – This research used action research paradigm, the soft methodology SSM and the framework PRO2PI-MFMOD. The methodologies were applied at Brazilian Public Software Ecosystem. Findings – The results of this research shows: the dimension of the capacity, as suggested by ISO/IEC 15504, is insufficient for quality treatment in certain domains; SSM methodology is suitable for scope and domain clarification in digital ecosystems; and PRO2PI-MFMOD framework is suitable to create a reference model process for digital ecosystems software production. Research limitations/implications – A complete SSM cycle was conducted, but with only one research cycle. In that sense, the results obtained in this research can be interpreted as boundaries to reflections regarding the learning occurred in the system. Practical i...