An approach to evaluating software process adaptation

Abstract

Process maturity reference frameworks such as ISO/IEC 15504 and the Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) seek to assist software process improvement (SPI) efforts by prescribing a roadmap for improving the capability of the development process. However, such frameworks are not widely adopted in the practice [1], [2], especially in smaller software development organisations where the development process is often modified based on business events [3]. Such modification of the development process represents an attempt to harmonise the process with the changing needs of the business, which is a dynamic capability. Dynamic capabilities refer to the ability of businesses to adapt to changing circumstances and according to the evolutionary theory of the firm [4], organisations that possess greater dynamic capability are more successful. This paper introduces dynamic SPI capability - the ability to adapt the software process relative to changing situational circumstances – as a method for evaluating software process adaptation.