Spice

Software Quality Software Quality Assurance Assurance SSoftware oftware PProcess rocess IImprovement mprovement and and CCapability Dapability DEEterminationtermination

Seminar: Oana FEIDIQuality Manager – Continental Automotive

What is SPICE?What is SPICE? SPICE – Software Process Improvement & Capability

dEtermination also known as ISO/IEC 15504 is an international standard for

SW process assessments Mainly used in Europe and Australia by the automotive

industry

Goal To provide assessment results that are repeatable, objective,

comparable

Future Automotive SPICE launched in April 2006 its usage will increase mainly driven by HIS (Audi, BMW,

Daimler Chrysler, Porsche, Volkswagen), Ford & Volvo, Fiat Each OEM have different target level; if these are not met,

then: Suppliers are requested to improve the development processes In case of high risks/low capability levels, the suppliers are excluded from

sourcing

The Goal of Process Assessment & The Goal of Process Assessment & Improvement Improvement

The goal of an improvement is to change an organization’s processes so that they achieve a higher ability to meet its businesses goals

Assessments deliver the input for any improvement by detecting strength and weaknesses in the organizations processes

Assessments are also a tool used by customers to ascertain the ability of their suppliers to meet their needs

ProcessAssessmen

t

Rating

Improvement

SPICE Model’s StructureSPICE Model’s Structure

The reference model architecture for this assessment model is 2-dimensional

Process dimension → contains processes in groups Process Capability dimension → allows the

capability of each process to be measured independently

Processes

Capabilit

y

SPICE Model’s StructureSPICE Model’s Structure Process dimension

Characterized by set of purpose statements which describe in measurable terms what has to be achieved in order to attain the defined purpose of the process

Process Capability dimension Characterizes the level of capability that an

organization unit has attained for a particular process or,

May be used by the organization as a target to be attained

Represent measurable characteristics necessary to manage a process and improve its capability to perform

Process structureProcess structure

Process structureProcess structure

Capability Dimension Capability Dimension overviewoverview

Level 5Optimizing

process

Level 4Predictable

process

Level 3Established

process

Level 2Managed process

Level 1Performed

process

Base practices of the process are performed ad hoc and poorly controlled. Work products of the process are identifiable.

Base practices of the process are planned and tracked.

Products are conformed to standards and requirements.

The process is managed and performed using a defined process. Projects are using a tailored version of the standard process.

The process is performed consistently in practice within defined control limits. The quality of work products is quantitatively known.

The process performance is optimized to meet current and future business needs.

Capability Level 1 & 2Capability Level 1 & 2

Level 1 Level 2

The purpose of the process is generally achieved

Work products proof implementation of base practices

No documented process No planning or checks of

performance of the process No quality requirements for

work product are expressed

The performance of the process is planned and checked

The responsibility for developing the work products is assigned to a person or team

Requirements for the work products are identified, documented and traced

Work products are put under configuration management and quality assurance

No documented or defined process

Capability Level 3Capability Level 3 A documented standard process with tailoring

guidelines exists and is used in the project Historical process performance data is gathered Experience from the performance of the process is

used for process improvement Resources and needed infrastructure for the

performance of the process are identified and made available

The process is not yet quantitatively understood or managed

Process improvement is reactive

Process Dimension Process Dimension overviewoverview Primary Life Cycle Processes Category

Acquisition Supply Engineering: ENG.4 (Software requirements analysis),

ENG.5 (Software design), ENG.6 (Software construction), ENG.7 (Software integration), ENG.8 (Software testing)

Supporting Life Cycle Processes Category Support: SUP.1 (Quality assurance), SUP.2 (Verification),

SUP.8 (Configuration management), SUP.10 (Change request management)

Organizational Life Cycle Process Category Management: MAN.3 (Project Management), MAN.5 (Risk

Management) Process Improvement: PIM.3 (Process Improvement) Reuse: REU.2 (Reuse program management)

Process AttributesProcess Attributes

Level Attributes

• Process innovation• Continuous optimization

• Process measurement• Process control

• Process definition• Process deployment

• Performance management• Work product management

• Process performance

Level 5

Level 4

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

Measure capability levelsMeasure capability levels The fulfillment of a process attribute (PA) is

measured along a scale from 0 – 100% in the following predefined stages:

N (not achieved): 0 – 15% The are no or only very limited indications of PA fulfillment

P (partially achieved): 16 – 50% There are some indicators that the PA is implemented to

the measured extent. In some aspects the process remains unpredictable, though.

L (largely achieved): 51 – 85% There is evidence that the PA is implemented to the

measured extend in a useful and systematic way. Process performance might still show some weaknesses

F (fully achieved): 86 – 100% There is evidence for a complete and systematic PA

execution to the measured extent. Process performance does not show any significant shortcomings due to the analyzed processes

SPICE AssessmentsSPICE Assessments

Planning Data collection Data analysis Process rating REPORT

Assessment input: • purpose• scope• constraints• qualified assessor• extended process definition

Assessment

Process

Process model • process purpose• practices

Assessment instrument• process indicators• process management indicators

Assessment output• process capability level ratings• assessment record

SPICE Assessments resultsSPICE Assessments results

DebateDebateLet’s rate the base practices for

ENG.8 (Software testing) in your organization