APPLYING SIX SIGMA TO SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE

Abstract

Keywords: DMAIC, DFSS, Information Technology, Process Improvement, Product Development, Project Management, Software Quality

The term "the software crisis" was coined in the 1960's to highlight the poor quality of software development. Since then there have been numerous attempts to improve the software development process. Although there has been progress, the problem has not been resolved. Software projects are still notoriously late, over budget and fail to satisfy their requirements. Recently, six sigma's success in manufacturing and service applications has attracted the attention of the software development community and has sparked considerable interest in applying these methods to improve the software development process. This talk will discuss this trend, describe the differences between software development and traditional six sigma applications, and provide a practical introduction to software-specific six sigma concepts and methods, highlighting the roles of Design for Six Sigma and DMAIC-based process improvement. In addition, a roadmap for deploying these techniques and guidance on how to effectively integrate six sigma into the software development process will be presented.

Bio

Dr. Eventoff has extensive experience in software engineering, quality systems, and management, and has successfully led large and small software development projects in a wide range of disciplines, including information technology, systems software, CASE tools, real-time command and control systems, and web-based applications. He has been an active participant in the development of the IEEE software engineering standards, and has assembled a track record for helping companies reduce cycle-time, increase productivity and improve the quality of their products.

Dr. Eventoff has published extensively on software development, quality standards and the use of quality principles to improve business results. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, vice-chair of the Princeton Section of the American Society for Quality, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council (MODC) and chair of MODC's Technology Committee.

Dr. Eventoff is President of ESTM Associates, Inc., a full-service consulting and training company that specializes in helping clients improve their operational performance and business results.