An innovative approach to software process improvement

The authors present the Westinghouse Electronics Systems Group (ESG) approach to software process improvement. In July 1988, the ESG participated in an assessment of its software engineering process. The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) developed the assessment instrument and provided a team of software professionals to assist ESG in its assessment. Several recommendations, aimed at improving ESG´s software engineering process, were made by the joint team of SEI and ESG participants. The primary recommendation from the assessment was to review ESG´s existing software engineering process group activities against SEI´s charter and functions and make appropriate recommendations for improvement. ESG´s software engineering process organization (SEPO) is described, SEPO software process activities are discussed, and improvements to ESG´s SEPO model are considered