Software process assessment and improvement

A discussion is given on software process assessment and improvement, by looking at both academic and industrial issues. It is concluded that while industry and universities have a common interest in the education of students, university educators must remain mindful of the tension between meeting current industry needs and preparing students for life long learning. Student projects should satisfy a confluence of sponsor and course objectives; certain limitations inherent in the differing end objectives of industry and tertiary education affect how students approach project work, avoiding reuse and collaboration for academic submissions. Students can be helped to become attuned to personal process assessment and improvement by the example of their lecturers. The habit of self review and improvement is an important facet of professional work. Supportive supervision by the lecturer in charge and the judicious use of guest lecturers can help to enrich student project experience. Over time, as professionally educated software engineers come to make up an ever increasing proportion of developers, it is realistic to anticipate an overall process improvement and client satisfaction with information systems and applications. Process improvement is a corporate and individual professional responsibility and concern. As tertiary educators, we can encourage process improvement by helping managers and developers to open their minds while they are students to habits of reflection and self improvement at an early stage of their education.