Applying balanced scorecard in software process improvement: a case study of small software organization

Software processes consist of a complex set of activities required to deliver software products within predicted quality, costs, and deadlines. To accomplish such goals, a software organization needs a quality and mature software process as a prerequisite for success. Adopting Software Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) represents a well-known path in the pursuit of mature software processes. However, its implementation is a subject of a permanent effort that implies different approaches and methods, and often leads to unsuccessful or limited success, though. This is especially emphasized in small software companies given the dynamic environment influenced by different factors, including insufficient resources, changes in technology, and staff turnover. In this paper, a case study of a small software company implementing software process improvement is presented. In a tailored approach to process improvement, a specific method using the balanced scorecard as input into the IDEAL model has been designed, enabling a narrow link between business goals and specific improvement goals. The results show that the software process and selected performance indicators were improved, and suggest the potential of the proposed approach in small organizations.