Automated tool support for an emerging international software process assessment standard

The Software Process Assessment and Capability Determination (SPICE) Project was established by ISO/IEC JTCI/SC7/WG10 to assist in the development of the emerging ISO standard for Software Process Assessment (ISO/IEC 15504) and to undertake user trials to provide early feedback for revision of the Standard. This paper describes the development of an automated tool to support the conduct of assessments in Phase 2 of the trialling period using the embedded model described in Part 5 of ISO/IEC 15504. The development process and product quality objectives and their validation are described. The impact of user feedback on the evolution of the tool is reviewed. Early experience in the application of the tool for conducting assessments is presented.