Product-Focused Software Process Improvement: 9th International Conference, PROFES 2008, Monte Porzio Catone, Italy, June 23-25, 2008, Proceedings ... / Programming and Software Engineering)

Product-Focused Software Process Improvement: 9th International Conference, PROFES 2008, Monte Porzio Catone, Italy, June 23-25, 2008, Proceedings ... / Programming and Software Engineering) Review

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Product Focused Software Process Improvement, PROFES 2008, held in Monte Porzio Catone, Italy, in June 2008.

The 31 revised full papers presented together with 4 reports on workshops and tutorials and 3 keynote addresses were carefully reviewed and selected from 61 submissions. The papers address different development modes, roles in the value chain, stakeholders’ viewpoints, collaborative development, as well as economic and quality aspects. The papers are organized in topical sections on quality and measurement, cost estimation, capability and maturity models, systems and software quality, software process improvement, lessons learned and best practices, and agile software development.

Optimizing Factory Performance: Cost-Effective Ways to Achieve Significant and Sustainable Improvement

Optimizing Factory Performance: Cost-Effective Ways to Achieve Significant and Sustainable Improvement Review

TQM, Reengineering, Theory of Constraints, JIT, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing . . .

These are just some of the methods that, over the past five decades, have promised to transform any manufacturing firm into a lean, mean, moneymaking machine. While each incorporates certain fundamental truths, strengths, and benefits, they are not panaceas. Nor do they necessarily provide much-needed insight into the science that underlies factory performance.

James Ignizio, Ph.D., an internationally recognized performance optimization expert, believes that only a balanced approach will provide the significant and sustainable improvement required of firms who will survive and prosper in the twenty-first century.

In this breakthrough guide, Dr. Ignizio picks up where such concepts as Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing leave off to provide you with a holistic, three-dimensional approach to mastering the art and science of manufacturing.

Focusing on the three primary enemies of factory performance—complexity, variability, and lackluster leadership—Optimizing Factory Performance cuts to the heart of the problem of less-than-world-class performance and demonstrates how those enemies manifest themselves in companies across manufacturing sectors. Ignizio also explores the insidious effect company politics and flagging commitment to manufacturing performance have on competitiveness.

Emphasizing the all-important, often overlooked third dimension of manufacturing—factory protocols—Ignizio describes the types of strategicand tactical changes to physical plant and operating procedures any company can make to achieve performance improvements. In addition, he arms you with powerful, original metrics for measuring and comparing factory performance, as well as a set of interactive simulation models, available online at www.mhprofessional.com/ignizio.

Running throughout the book is an often amusing, always instructive account of the fictional high-tech firm, Muddle, Inc., which helps support the concepts discussed in the real world of manufacturing, while reinforcing key lessons learned.

Read Optimizing Factory Performance and find out how to transform your organization into the kind of fast, agile manufacturer that delivers the right products to the right customers at the right time— every time.

Software Measurement: Establish - Extract - Evaluate - Execute

Software Measurement: Establish - Extract - Evaluate - Execute Review

In this comprehensive introduction to software measurement, Ebert and Dumke detail knowledge and experiences about the subject in an easily understood, hands-on presentation. The book describes software measurement in theory and practice as well as provides guidance to all relevant measurement tools and online references. In addition, it presents hands-on experience from industry leaders and provides many examples and case studies from Global 100 companies. Besides the many practical hints and checklists, readers will also appreciate the large reference list, which includes links to metrics communities where project experiences are shared.

Real Process Improvement Using the CMMI

Real Process Improvement Using the CMMI Review

Real Process Improvement Using the CMMI^® presents readers with non-academic, real-world approaches to process improvement via CMMI. The author provides concepts and techniques for CMMI-based process improvement which are as effective as they are innovative. Professionals at all levels from system engineers to CEOs will find a wealth of practical guidance and new ways to look at model-based process improvement that have already benefited large and small organizations in a variety of environments. Using plain language and enlightening illustrations, the author identifies the most critical concepts of the CMMI, and explains how to turn those concepts into real process improvement.

This book provides you with key information that will significantly benefit all CMMI process improvement efforts. Topics include:

·        Ways to discover and understand the business goals and drivers for successful process improvement initiatives

·        How to recognize the structures and practices many organizations already have in place that can accelerate process improvement, even before they begin using the CMMI

·        Planning and managing the process improvement project

·        Innovative, untraditional yet highly effective and proven strategies for CMMI-based process improvement

·         A thorough debunking of many of the costly and wasteful myths surrounding CMMI-based improvement

Accelerating Process Improvement Using Agile Techniques

Accelerating Process Improvement Using Agile Techniques Review

Accelerating Process Improvement Using Agile Techniques explains how agile programming is applied to standard process improvement. By applying agile techniques, IT organizations can speed up process improvement initiatives, minimize the resources these initiatives require, and maximize the benefits of process improvement. The book details step-by-step how to implement the Accelerating Process Improvement Methodology (APIM) and how to integrate APIM with various standard process improvement models and methodologies, including the ISO 9000 series, SPICE, TQM, SPIRE, PMBOK, and CMM/CMMI. Agile process improvement enables organizations to rapidly set strategic goals, meet a greater percentage of user requirements, and realize a quicker return on investment.

 

About the Author

Deb Jacobs is a Professional Consultant with Focal Point Associates specializing in process improvement and project management. She currently provides support to organizations in training, process improvement consulting, project management consulting, software engineering consulting, and proposal development. Ms. Jacobs has over 25 year’s in project management, process improvement management, system/software engineering, and proposal development with a BS in Computer Science.

Design of Experiments Using The Taguchi Approach: 16 Steps to Product and Process Improvement

Design of Experiments Using The Taguchi Approach: 16 Steps to Product and Process Improvement Review

Fulfill the practical potential of DOE-with a powerful, 16-step approach for applying the Taguchi method

Over the past decade, Design of Experiments (DOE) has undergone great advances through the work of the Japanese management guru Genechi Taguchi. Yet, until now, books on the Taguchi method have been steeped in theory and complicated statistical analysis. Now this trailblazing work translates the Taguchi method into an easy-to-implement 16-step system.

Based on Ranjit Roy's successful Taguchi training course, this extensively illustrated book/CD-ROM package gives readers the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and apply the Taguchi method to engineering projects-from theory and applications to hands-on analysis of the data. It is suitable for managers and technicians without a college-level engineering or statistical background, and its self-study pace-with exercises included in each chapter-helps readers start using Taguchi DOE tools on the job quickly. Special features include:
* An accompanying CD-ROM of Qualitek-4 software, which performs calculations and features all example experiments described in the book
* Problem-solving exercises relevant to actual engineering situations, with solutions included at the end of the text
* Coverage of two-, three-, and four-level factors, analysis of variance, robust designs, combination designs, and more


Engineers and technical personnel working in process and product design-as well as other professionals interested in the Taguchi method-will find this book/CD-ROM a tremendously important and useful asset for making the most of DOE in their work.

Handbook of Healthcare Delivery Systems (Industrial and Systems Engineering Series)

Handbook of Healthcare Delivery Systems (Industrial and Systems Engineering Series) Review

With rapidly rising healthcare costs directly impacting the economy and quality of life, resolving improvement challenges in areas such as safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity has become paramount. Using a system engineering perspective, Handbook of Healthcare Delivery Systems offers theoretical foundations, methodologies, and case studies in each main sector of the system. It explores how system engineering methodologies and their applications in designing, evaluating, and optimizing the operations of the healthcare system could improve patient outcomes and cost effectiveness.

The book presents an overview of current challenges in the healthcare system and the potential impact of system engineering. It describes an integrated framework for the delivery system and the tools and methodologies used for performance assessment and process improvement with examples of lean concept, evidence-based practice and risk assessment. The book then reviews system engineering methodologies and technologies and their applications in healthcare. Moving on to coverage of the design, planning, control and management of healthcare systems, the book contains chapters on twelve services sectors: preventive care, telemedicine, transplant, pharmacy, ED/ICU, OR, decontamination, laboratory, emergency response, mental health, food and supplies, and information technology. It presents the state-of-the-art operations and examines the challenges in each service unit.

While system engineering concepts have been broadly applied in the healthcare systems, most improvements have been focused on a specific segment or unit of the delivery system. Each unit has strong interactions with others and any significant improvement is more likely to be sustained over time by integrating the process and re-evaluating the system design from a holistic viewpoint. By providing an overview of individual operational sectors in the extremely complex healthcare system and introducing a wide array of engineering methods and tools, this handbook establishes the foundation to facilitate integrated system thinking to redesign the next generation healthcare system.

The Certified Manager of Quality/organizational Excellence Handbook

The Certified Manager of Quality/organizational Excellence Handbook Review

The title of the ASQ certification changed to Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence to reflect the fact that the role of the quality function is continually evolving. Many of the responsibilities for the management of quality are being deployed throughout the organization into other functions. This now requires a much more comprehensive understanding of an organization as a system within the larger system of society. The range of tools and technologies that quality professionals are required to use and/or facilitate is also increasing. The ability to read, interpret, and use financial tools, as well as use the language of cost/profitability when talking to senior management, is more important than ever for quality professionals. In addition to being a peerless reference on quality management, The Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence Handbook is the most comprehensive preparatory guide for the Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence Exam. The handbook is completely updated to reflect the changes in the 2006 Body of Knowledge (BoK), and the pertinent BoK requirements associated with good quality management practices are shown throughout each section. These BoK requirements represent the range of content and the cognitive level to which multiple choice questions can be presented. Included in appendices are the newly updated Body of Knowledge, an extensive glossary of terms, a list of additional references for further study, and (on an accompanying CD-ROM) sample questions similar to those on the actual exam.

Design for Six Sigma: The Revolutionary Process for Achieving Extraordinary Profits

Design for Six Sigma: The Revolutionary Process for Achieving Extraordinary Profits Review

If a company changes a design after a product launch-and not during the concept stage-implementing the changes will cost 1,000 times more. Six Sigma, the near-perfect rate of only 3.4 defects per million opportunities and the management strategy to which Jack Welch attributes GE's phenomenal success-is on the list of all successful organizations. Even with excellent Six Sigma implementation, most companies are able to achieve only Five Sigma, which is not enough in today's ultracompetitive marketplace. For the first time, leading quality expert and author Subir Chowdhury presents Design For Six Sigma (DFSS), a revolutionary five-step process that takes a company all the way to Six Sigma.

Software Process Improvement: 14th European Conference, EuroSPI 2007, Potsdam, Germany, September 26-28, 2007, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science / Programming and Software Engineering)

Software Process Improvement: 14th European Conference, EuroSPI 2007, Potsdam, Germany, September 26-28, 2007, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science / Programming and Software Engineering) Review

This book constitutes the refereed proceeding of the 14th European Software Process Improvement Conference, EuroSPI 2007, held in Potsdam, Germany, in September 2007. The papers are organized in topical sections on enforcement, alignment, tailoring. There is focus on SME issues, improvement analysis and empirical studies, new avenues of SPI, SPI methodologies, as well as testing and reliability.

Software Process and Product Measurement: International Conferences IWSM 2009 and Mensura 2009 Amsterdam, The Netherlands, November 4-6, 2009. ... / Programming and Software Engineering)

Software Process and Product Measurement: International Conferences IWSM 2009 and Mensura 2009 Amsterdam, The Netherlands, November 4-6, 2009. ... / Programming and Software Engineering) Review

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of two joint events - the International Workshop on Software Measurement, IWSM 2009 and the International Conference on Software Process and Product Measurement, Mensura 2009, held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in November 2009.

The 24 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions for inclusion in the book. This book considers issues such as the applicability of measures and metrics to software, the efficiency of measurement programs in industry and the theoretical foundations of software engineering.

A Comprehensive Process Improvement Methodology: Experiences at Caterpillar's Mossville Engine Center (MEC)

A Comprehensive Process Improvement Methodology: Experiences at Caterpillar's Mossville Engine Center (MEC) Review

This case, coauthored by a process improvement manager, looks at business process reengineering (BPR) and discusses how it has received considerable attention from the management information systems (MIS) community. However, dramatic improvements touted by BPR advocates have failed to materialize in many organizations

Performance Improvement Basics: A Resource Guide for Healthcare Managers

Performance Improvement Basics: A Resource Guide for Healthcare Managers Review

Accurately capture data and illustrate improvement at your organization.

Implementing an effective performance improvement program is a constant challenge for department managers. That is why we’ve created a second edition of our best-seller, Performance Improvement Basics: A Resource Guide for Healthcare Managers. Whether your goal is to gather buy-in from facility leaders or to brush up on effective data collection and analysis techniques, you need practical, convenient, and useful tools to focus your performance improvement program on meeting the needs of your patients and organization.

This updated book and CD-ROM will help you stay confident in your knowledge of quality improvement techniques and data analysis. It uses plain English to explain the requirements and principles of improvement initiatives, making it a beneficial resource for new and existing staff members.

Straightforward, no-nonsense approach to PI

Performance Improvement Basics, Second Edition will help you and your staff to:

Ease new QI managers into their role

Demonstrate how to collect and manage quality improvement data

Provide a solid understanding of performance improvement techniques

Familiarize readers with how to lead quality improvement meetings

Complete start-to-finish guide, designed with you in mind

This guide is useful for new and veteran staff. It covers basic performance improvement concepts and advanced topics such as how to involve staff actively in quality improvement initiatives, with emphasis on garnering physician buy-in.

Best of all, you'll receive:

• Tools to help you design data collection, perform process analysis, make sense of your data, and present data effectively.
• Tips on coordinating your departmental PI program with physicians.
• Self-assessment checklist to help pinpoint areas that you want to develop further!

Check out the Table of Contents

• Ch1: Performance improvement as a management tool
• Ch 2: Performance improvement planning
• Ch 3: Quality reporting and communication
• Ch 4: Quality measurement, monitoring, and analysis
• Ch 5: Process improvement basics
• Ch 6: Involving physicians in performance improvement
• Appendices: data analysis tools, PI methodologies, Guide for implementing PI program

Jumpstart CMM/CMMI Software Process Improvements : Using IEEE Software Engineering Standards

Jumpstart CMM/CMMI Software Process Improvements : Using IEEE Software Engineering Standards Review

This book provides invaluable guidance on moving an organization from the chaotic environment of free-form software development towards a more controlled and documented process. It discusses how IEEE standards may be used to facilitate the development of internal plans and procedures in support of repeatable software engineering processes, or in achiving CMM/CMMI-SW Level 2.

Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum

Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum Review

Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum Feature

• ISBN13: 9780321579362
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Proven, 100% Practical Guidance for Making Scrum and Agile Work in Any Organization

 

This is the definitive, realistic, actionable guide to starting fast with Scrum and agile–and then succeeding over the long haul. Leading agile consultant and practitioner Mike Cohn presents detailed recommendations, powerful tips, and real-world case studies drawn from his unparalleled experience helping hundreds of software organizations make Scrum and agile work.

 

Succeeding with Agile is for pragmatic software professionals who want real answers to the most difficult challenges they face in implementing Scrum. Cohn covers every facet of the transition: getting started, helping individuals transition to new roles, structuring teams, scaling up, working with a distributed team, and finally, implementing effective metrics and continuous improvement.

 

Throughout, Cohn presents “Things to Try Now” sections based on his most successful advice. Complementary “Objection” sections reproduce typical conversations with those resisting change and offer practical guidance for addressing their concerns. Coverage includes 

• Practical ways to get started immediately–and “get good” fast
• Overcoming individual resistance to the changes Scrum requires
• Staffing Scrum projects and building effective teams
• Establishing “improvement communities” of people who are passionate about driving change
• Choosing which agile technical practices to use or experiment with
• Leading self-organizing teams
• Making the most of Scrum sprints, planning, and quality techniques
• Scaling Scrum to distributed, multiteam projects
• Using Scrum on projects with complex sequential processes or challenging compliance and governance requirements
• Understanding Scrum’s impact on HR, facilities, and project management

Whether you've completed a few sprints or multiple agile projects and whatever your role–manager, developer, coach, ScrumMaster, product owner, analyst, team lead, or project lead–this book will help you succeed with your very next project. Then, it will help you go much further: It will help you transform your entire development organization.

 

Simulation Modeling Methods: To Reduce Risks and Increase Performance (CD-ROM included)

Simulation Modeling Methods: To Reduce Risks and Increase Performance (CD-ROM included) Review

Computer simulation modeling, the new force in business, allows managers to see the results of a process change before committing time and resources to it. The Simulation Modeling Toolkit is vital to understanding numerous applications of this important process. Its methods and techniques will help any reader reduce time and risk in developing new products and serving customers, and the CD-ROM insert enables the user to create and run simulations from start to finish.

What Works for GE May Not Work for You: Using Human Systems Dynamics to Build a Culture of Process Improvement

What Works for GE May Not Work for You: Using Human Systems Dynamics to Build a Culture of Process Improvement Review

What Works for GE May Not Work for You: Using Human Systems Dynamics to Build a Culture of Process Improvement provides new tools for managing and sustaining process improvement in today’s complex non-linear environments and helps readers apply new, relevant theory to their own management practices. With more than 50 combined years of change management and process improvement consulting experience, the authors offer valuable practical insights for creating dynamic organizational change.

The first section of the book describes the key bodies of knowledge and process improvement processes (Lean, Six Sigma, and Human Systems Dynamics) used throughout the text. The next two sections focus on the case story of TryinHard Marine. The authors first highlight the dynamics of a typical linear process improvement implementation. They then present ways to combat a range of complex, non-linear, and emergent organizational issues as they arise during the implementation of a Six Sigma initiative. The last part explains how to assess readiness to begin a process improvement initiative, select consultants and internal "Belt" candidates, and choose the appropriate tools for projects. The authors also introduce additional tools and concepts to enable adaptive action at all levels of an organization.

This book provides useful information for thinking and behaving in adaptive ways that can be applied to any organization. By using the concepts, models, and tools presented, readers can improve their own business improvement processes.

The book has an accompanying website with more information.