Crafting a TQM-oriented software development lifecycle: program experience

Discusses practical ways to implement essential principles of TQM (total quality management) within four perspectives: people, quality, mission, and environment. The TQM approach described was developed and implemented at Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company (LASC) on a very successful medium-scale software-development project: the Ground Processing System Software Update Project (GPSSUP). It is noted that GPSSUP has outperformed previous LASC software development projects according to all major criteria: quality, reliability, profitability, productivity, building personnel capabilities and motivation, schedule performance, and increasing the company technology base. This performance improved as the program progressed, due to a deepening incorporation of TQM via continuous process improvement and a reuse life cycle.<
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