SEI / CMMProposed Software EvaluationAnd Test KPA

Richard  Bender

Bender & Associates Inc.

46  Digital Drive, Suite 5

Novato,  CA 94949

(415)  884-4380

(415)  884-4384 fax

rbender@softtest.com

April  1996

(Revision #4)

KPA REVIEW GROUP

The following have been gracious enough to  be reviewers of this proposed Testing KPA.  I want to thank them for their  insights and contributions.  However, any problems or omissions the reader may  find with this document I take full responsibility for.  This is very much a  work in progress.  Please feel free to contact me with suggestions for improving  it.

Boris Beizer - Independent testing  consultant

Greg Daich - STSC

Dave Gelperin - SQE

Bill Hetzel - SQE

Capers Jones - SPR

John Musa - ATT

William Perry - QAI

Robert Poston - IDE

The original version of the Evaluation and  Testing KPA was sponsored by Xerox Corporation.  They have graciously allowed us  to distribute it to the software community.  The key contact is:

David Egerton

800 Phillips Road

Building 129

Webster, NY 14580

(716) 422-8822

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................

2. DEFINING EVALUATION ANDTEST............................................................................................. . 

3. THE JUSTIFICATION FOR A SEPARATE EVALUATION  AND TEST KPA.................................

3.1  Accelerating Cultural  Change.......................................................................................... ... ......

3.2 The Role  Of Evaluation And Test In Project  Tracking.............................................................. .. 

3.3  Evaluation and Test As A Percentage Of The Project  Costs.....................................................

3.4 Impact Of  Evaluation and Test On Development Schedules And Project Costs....

3.5 The Cost  Of  Defects................................................................................................................. .. 

4. THE PROPOSED SOFTWARE EVALUATION AND TEST  KPA.....................................................

4.1  Goals...........................................................................................................................................

4.2  Commitment To  Perform...........................................................................................................  

4.3 Ability  To  Perform......................................................................................................................  

4.4  Activities  Performed ..................................................................................................................

4.5  Measurement And  Analysis......................................................................................................

4.6 Verifying  Implementation............................................................................................................

5. RECONCILING WITH THE EXISTING CMMKPA’s......................................................................

5.1 Leveling  The Evaluation And Testing KPA Within The  CMM.................................................. ..

5.2  Repackaging Suggestions For The Existing KPA’s........................................................................