Kival Chaves Weber

Brazilian software process reference model and assessment method

This paper presents the MR-MPS Process Reference Model and the MA-MPS Process Assessment Method. They were created according to the Brazilian reality in the MPS.BR Project, aiming at improving software process mainly in small to medium-size enterprises (SMEs). They are compatible with CMMISM and conformant with ISO/IEC 15504 and ISO/IEC 12207. This paper describes three MPS documents: a general guide, an assessment guide and an acquisition guide. The initial project outcomes are presented. The MPS Model has a great potential to be replicated in other countries with similar characteristics related to the software industry.

MPS.BR: A Tale of Software Process Improvement and Performance Results in the Brazilian Software Industry

In December 2003 a Brazilian nationwide program was created aiming at improving software processes. The MPS.BR Program is responsible for a great evolution in the software development scenario in Brazil by providing the means to support software process improvement initiatives based on the MPS Model. In 2008 a project named iMPS was launched to enable the analysis of the Performance Results of organizations that adopted the MPS Model. This paper describes some of the findings of the studies that have already been conducted. Preliminary evidences show improvement trends regarding cost, quality, schedule, and productivity, especially for those organizations that adopted the MPS Model for continuous improvement purposes.

MPS.BR Program and MPS Model: Main Results, Benefits and Beneficiaries of Software Process Improvement in Brazil

Over the past years Brazil has done big investments in software quality. In 2010 the investment was among the highest in the world. Among them, the long term MPS. BR program focuses on improving the software process quality of Brazilian companies. Therefore, this paper intends to describe its software process improvement reference model (MR-MPS) and the most important results accomplished to date on Government, Industry and University scenarios. The Brazilian Government had endorsed the MPS adoption as a mean to increase the software industry competitiveness both locally and globally. In the University scenario, the MPS model contributes to transfer software engineering knowledge to the Industry and allows the identification of new research challenges. The quantification of benefits in the Industry is based on the iMPS family of surveys which allow both performance results characterization and performance variation analysis considering organizations that adopted the MPS model. Quantitative data have shown the MPS model acceptance by the Industry. Moreover, the obtained results evidence improvements reduction of cost and schedule and increase of productivity and quality in the software projects.

MPS Model and TABA Workstation: Implementing Software Process Improvement Initiatives in Small Settings

Small and medium-size enterprises (SME) are usually hindered from improving their processes due to the complexity and costs involved in software process improvement (SPI). In this context, Brazilian software industries and research universities are working cooperatively to implement a strategy aiming to improve software processes of Brazilian SME. The main goal of this initiative is to develop and disseminate a Brazilian software process model (named MPS model) aligned to Brazilian software industry realities. In order to cope with factors that have influence on SPI success, we developed an approach to implement MPS model-based initiatives through the support of a process-centered software engineering environment named TABA Workstation. This paper presents the MPS Model components and the main functionalities of the TABA Workstation to support MPS model-based implementations in SME. We also discuss the achieved results of Brazilian SME that adopted the presented approach.

Results of 10 Years of Software Process Improvement in Brazil Based on the MPS-SW Model

In December 2003 the MPS. BR Program was launched aiming at establishing and disseminating a software process reference model -- the MPS-SW -- allowing both micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and large organizations to achieve the benefits of process improvement. Nowadays, ten years later, the achieved results exceed MPS. BRs predefined benchmarks in several ways. [Objective] This paper aims at providing an overview on the MPS-SW model and presenting these results, describing its nationwide adoption in Brazil (more than 500 assessments spread across the country) and outcomes of two recent surveys concerning the impact of such adoption in the software industry. [Method] We planned surveys to capture the impact from two different and complementary points of view: the qualitative perception of the customers (sponsors of MPS-SW adopting organizations) and the performance results of organizations that adopted the model (e.g. concerning productivity, quality and estimation accuracy). [Results] Results of the qualitative survey indicated that the adoption was motivated by both business and technical reasons and that most sponsors are satisfied with the obtained improvements and would recommend the MPS-SW model. Results of the survey on performance results indicated higher productivity, quality and estimation accuracy for organizations assessed in higher maturity levels.

From Software Engineering Research to Brazilian Software Quality Improvement

Software Engineering is a discipline that since its emergence is related to the solution of practical problems faced by the software industry. The academy has a fundamental role in finding solutions to the desires and needs of industry and thus to improve the quality of software produced. This paper presents the role of academia in the creation and transference of Software Engineering knowledge to the Brazilian industry, in particular by the results of the Brazilian Software Process Improvement Program (MPS.BR). The paper also highlights the Brazilian Symposium on Software Engineering (SBES) as a key forum for the establishment and strengthening of the Software Quality community in Brazil.

A Nationwide Program for Software Process Improvement in Brazil

Continuous improvement of software development capability is fundamental for organizations to thrive in competitive markets. Nevertheless, software process improvement (SPI) implementation based on software process reference models and standards is a complex and long-term endeavor that requires investment of large sums of money. This paper describes a national program for SPI in Brazilian organizations. The main goal of this initiative is to develop and disseminate a Brazilian software process model (named MPS Model) aiming to establish a feasible pathway for organizations to achieve benefits from implementing SPI at reasonable costs, especially SMEs. This paper presents the main components of MPS Model. The results of MPS Model adoption and dissemination in Brazilian software industry are also presented in this paper. Although the main focus of the MPS Model is on SMEs, the model demonstrated to be adequate to support SPI implementation and assessment in large organizations.

A Process Reference Model and A Process Assessment Model to Foster R&D&I Management in Organizations: MGPDI

A strategy to foster innovation in organizations consists of the adoption of a Research, Development and Innovation (RD (ii) the ISO/IEC 330xx family of standards for Process Assessment; (iii) lessons learned with the Brazilian model (MPS) for software process improvement. The MGPDI model has three components: a Process Reference Model (MR-MGPDI), a Process Assessment Model (MA-MGPDI), and a Business Model (MN-MGPDI). This paper also describes the validation of this model and its pilot implementation and assessment in three Brazilian companies. In addition to its relevance in Brazil, it has a high potential for replication in other countries.