From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,5aa763fe62c20184 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public From: Richard D Riehle Subject: Re: Pratt & Whitney's Embedded Software - CMM Level 3! Date: 1999/04/29 Message-ID: <7gal49$l17@dfw-ixnews7.ix.netcom.com>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 472461711 References: <3.0.32.19990423161855.0096d520@iu.net> Organization: Netcom X-NETCOM-Date: Thu Apr 29 5:06:01 PM CDT 1999 Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Date: 1999-04-29T17:06:01-05:00 List-Id: In article <3.0.32.19990423161855.0096d520@iu.net>, harbaugh@IU.NET wrote: >I work in a level 3 software shop (not P&W) and if P&W is no better than >where I work then I am concerned about my safety while flying. This is an interesting view of CMM. Some people have characterized Level One as the "Star Programmer" model and Level Two as the "Star Manager" model. Others have mischaracterized Level One as "chaotic." In fact, many Level One organizations have produced excellent software because of their ability to hire star programmers and Level Two organizations have succeeded because of superb managers. Process is no substitute for quality personnel. If you are a Level Five and have a staff of incompetent programmers, you will end up with a good process but wretched software. Process is no substitute for a well-organized, technically skilled project manager. Process is one component of software quality. If the organization has a great process but personnel without the requisite skill set to build dependable software, we are in trouble. Let's not turn CMM into just another bureaucratic checkbox. Let's not delude ourselves into thinking that process maturity can turn poor engineers into good engineers. I know Mr. Harbaugh never intended to suggest such a thing since he is an experienced, competent software professional himself. It is just that I am seeing other managerial wannabees think that CMM is the solution to their problems. Dr. Humphries published a book on the Personal Process that addresses the individual responsibility of the software developer. He too understands that turning CMM into a bureaucracy is no substitute for individual excellence. Sorry to get preachy. This is one of my pet peeves. Richard Riehle richard@adaworks.com http://www.adaworks.com