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LAPPI: A light‐weight technique to practical process modeling and improvement target identification
Author(s) -
Raninen Anu,
Ahonen Jarmo J.,
Sihvonen HannaMiina,
Savolainen Paula,
Beecham Sarah
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of software: evolution and process
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 2047-7481
pISSN - 2047-7473
DOI - 10.1002/smr.1571
Subject(s) - computer science , identification (biology) , process (computing) , constructive , software , process management , process modeling , performance improvement , work in process , industrial engineering , software engineering , operations management , engineering , botany , biology , programming language , operating system
Understanding the current state of the software processes and their problem points is important. Without this understanding, software process improvement (SPI) resources may be allocated to less meaningful targets. SPI work can be challenging to initiate especially in small companies where resources and knowledge of SPI are often limited. The aim of the developed technique, LAPPI (A Light‐weight Technique to Practical Process Modeling and Improvement Target Identification), is to provide an easy to use, lightweight tool for process modeling and improvement target identification. The technique provides a suitable method that integrates with various SPI initiatives. The method used in the development of LAPPI is a nonformal variation of constructive research. LAPPI has been incrementally developed in multiple academia‐industry collaboration projects and by industry actors themselves. Our evaluation of the LAPPI technique in 42 studies conducted in 31 companies indicates that the technique is suitable for modeling the current process and identifying the points of improvement in the process. Practical experience shows that LAPPI provides a cost‐effective technique for process modeling and improvement target identification especially in small and medium‐sized enterprises. It is most useful in the diagnosing phase of SPI. It helps the company to understand the current processes and the organizational interactions, and to create a process description baseline. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.