Towards a software process improvement selection framework for small and medium enterprises in Botswana

Abstract

Software Process Improvement (SPI) models are quality models or standards for software development used to produce quality software. It involves systematic procedures to improve performance of an existing processing system by changing the current processes or updating new processes in order to avoid problems identified in the old processing system by means of a process assessment. A variety of SPI models have been suggested in the literature which have been used to improve software products. However software companies and other organisations still find it a challenge to choose or select the right SPI model to use in their organisations. In Botswana for instance the majority of software companies are Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). For SMEs, the challenge is even worse as most of the SMEs already have challenges using the existing SPI models. This study focuses on finding out the software companies’ use of SPI models in Botswana. The study also proposes a framework for choosing or selecting appropriate SPI model for the SMEs in Botswana. Relevant data was collected from software companies that develop and sell software products to their clients. Government departments and business organizations that use software products were also studied to assess their capacity in software usage. A total number of 14 software companies were used in finding out the status of the software companies’ capability and maturity in software development in Botswana. Another set of 16 government and business organizations were used to evaluate the use of the software products in Botswana. Out of the selected samples, only less than half (7) of the software companies in Botswana are familiar with the existing standards. Of these companies 4 claim to be familiar with the Capability Maturity Model/Capability Maturity Model Intergrated (CMM/CMMI). However, further assessment to certify their maturity on the CMM scale showed that only 2 companies have attained level 2 on the CMMI scale, and only 1 of these two have attained levels 3 and 4 of the Capability Maturity Model. Further, an SPI Selection framework for SMEs is proposed in this study. This is to enable the SMEs select and adopt appropriate SPI framework when necessary.