Case study of CMM and SPICE comparison in software process assessment

Abstract

The Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model for Software (CMM) and the International Standards Organization's ISO/IEC 15504 standard for Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination (SPICE) are two important models for software process assessment, improvement and capability determination. In this case study a software development unit uses the SPICE model to improve its software processes while the international parent corporation defines overall process maturity goals using CMM. The issue is to be able to compare assessed SPICE process capabilities and CMM maturity levels. The two models have different architecture and focus. SPICE separates processes and capability levels in two dimensions while CMM handles them in one dimension. CMM focuses on organization's capability whereas SPICE focuses on single process capability. First we study structures of both models on a conceptual level and then analyze processes and capability levels using processes related to the management of customer requirements as an example. The CMM Requirements Management Key Process Area is mapped to the corresponding SPICE processes and capability levels. The organization simultaneously performed limited process assessments using both models. Actual assessment findings are used to illustrate differences and similarities in the assessment results. Process capability comparison seems to be possible but requires consideration because of both structure and content differences in the models.