PAM‐SMEs: process assessment method for small to medium enterprises

Abstract

Several software process improvement (SPI) standard models have been invented since the last decades, for example, CMMI, SPICE, and CMM. Most of these models had to be tailored by several researchers in order to be applied within Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This is mainly due to their environmental challenges such as resources. In addition to this, the SPI models including the current standard model the CMMI are not considering tailoring their SPI program to business objectives. Achieving business objectives is the main recipe for business success. Therefore, this research (PAM-SMEs) is setup to tailor SPI program to business objectives within SMEs environmental challenges. Key features of the PAM-SMEs are as follows: the use of simplified and tailorable assessment techniques and data collection tool based on the CMMI; and then prioritizing the outcome of the assessment to the SMEs business objectives by the use of prioritization technique. The PAM-SMEs was applied within three partner SMEs, and the overall evaluation shows that the PAM-SMEs help to drive their SPI program toward their business objectives with the available resources.

Software maintenance improvement in small software companies: Reflections on experiences

“…A survey conducted among software organizations worldwide indicates that less than 18% of VSEs are certified, while 53% of larger companies adopt standards [28]. In some cases, small and medium organizations tailor existing standards or reference models to their needs, like Process Assessment Method for Small to Medium Enterprises (PAM-SMEs) based on CMMI, which was successfully implemented in three companies [36].…”

A lightweight inductive method for process assessment based on frequent feedback: A study in a micro software company

“…The assessment costs are very low (about 8 hours per project), which provides the evidence that lightweight assessment is easy to implement and with low costs. Abushama (2016) presented a Process Assessment Method for Small to Medium Enterprises (PAM-SMEs), aimed at tailoring the software process assessment as an activity within the SPI program. PAM-SMEs is based on CMMI as a base framework, but it is adjusted to environmental challenges and business objectives of small organizations.…”

Estudios de casos realizados en PyMES de Argentina para validar DepProMod

“…La aparición de un mayor número de empresas de software transformó a la industria del software más competitiva. La mejora en la calidad del software se ha convertido en un factor clave de éxito que permite a las empresas lograr una ventaja competitiva y es esencial para la calidad del producto, la sostenibilidad comercial y el crecimiento [Abushama 2016]. El porcentaje de representatividad de las PyMES en el sector de la industria del software se mantiene desde las últimas dos décadas [Mishra et al 2009], [Felderer et al 2016], [Sharma et al 2019], [Pino et al 2008].…”