Six Sigma software development / Christine B. Tayntor.

By:

Tayntor, Christine B

Material type: Text

TextPublication details: Boca Raton, FL : Auerbach Publications, c2007.Edition: 2nd edDescription: xxvii, 458 p. : ill. ; 24 cmISBN:

9781420044263 (pbk.)
1420044265 (pbk.)

Subject(s):

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Copy number	Status	Barcode
Standard Loan	Thurles Library Main Collection	005.1 TAY (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available	R13365KRCT
Standard Loan	Thurles Library Main Collection	005.1 TAY (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available	R13368KRCT
Standard Loan	Thurles Library Main Collection	005.1 TAY (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available	R13366KRCT
Standard Loan	Thurles Library Main Collection	005.1 TAY (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available	R13369KRCT

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Even though Six Sigma programs have successfully been implemented in practice, many IT departments remain skeptical of the process or are unaware of how the tools can be used to improve system development. Removing the mystique surrounding this technique, Six Sigma Software Development, Second Edition demonstrates how Six Sigma tools and concepts can be used to enhance the system development process.

Revised and updated, this second edition clearly explains Six Sigma concepts and their application, maps Six Sigma concepts and tools to all aspects of system development, and proposes the use of Six Sigma tools to evaluate and improve the overall performance of the IT department. In addition to classic Six Sigma, the book introduces Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and illustrates when and how its tools and techniques can be used to increase the robustness and reliability of a new system. It also shows how the judicious application of lean tools can reduce the complexity of IT processes, thus shortening the time needed to translate customer requirements into completed systems and increasing customer satisfaction.

Includes index.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

List of Exhibits (p. xix)
Introduction (p. xxv)
I Introduction to Six Sigma (p. 1)
1 Six Sigma in Perspective (p. 3)
Defining Six Sigma (p. 3)
More than Statistics (p. 4)
Not Just Products (p. 4)
Defect Prevention (p. 5)
Reduced Variation (p. 6)
Customer Focus (p. 7)
Fact-Based Decisions (p. 8)
Teamwork (p. 9)
Tools and Training (p. 9)
A Strategy, Not an Initiative (p. 10)
DFSS: The Logical Extension to Six Sigma (p. 10)
Applying Six Sigma to System Development (p. 11)
No Relevance to IT (p. 12)
All or Nothing (p. 13)
2 The Six Sigma Difference (p. 15)
The Six Sigma Difference (p. 15)
Six Sigma and Quality Assurance (p. 15)
Six Sigma and CMM (p. 17)
Six Sigma and Lean (p. 19)
3 Managing Change (p. 21)
The Human Effects of Change (p. 21)
The Roles People Play (p. 23)
Components of Successful Change (p. 23)
Building Commitment (p. 24)
Formal Communication (p. 25)
Informal Communications (p. 27)
II The Basics of Six Sigma (p. 29)
4 Introduction to DMAIC (p. 31)
Background to the Case Study (p. 33)
5 The Definition Phase (p. 35)
The Project Champion (p. 35)
Step 1 Define the Problem (p. 36)
Step 2 Form a Team (p. 37)
Step 3 Establish a Project Charter (p. 42)
The Thought Process Map (p. 44)
Refining the Project Scope (p. 44)
Step 4 Develop a Project Plan (p. 47)
Step 5 Identify the Customers (p. 47)
Step 6 Identify Key Outputs (p. 49)
Step 7 Identify and Prioritize Customer Requirements (p. 50)
The Second Meeting (p. 52)
Step 8 Document the Current Process (p. 56)
Types of Process Maps (p. 56)
Top-Level Map (p. 57)
Detailed Process Map (p. 58)
Functional Process Map (p. 59)
Complete the Requirements Definition (p. 61)
6 The Measurement Phase (p. 65)
Step 1 Determine What To Measure (p. 66)
Types of Variation (p. 66)
The Lean Approach (p. 68)
Measure What You Value (p. 69)
Accuracy of Measurements (p. 71)
Step 2 Conduct the Measurement (p. 72)
Understanding Variation (p. 73)
Step 3 Calculate Current Sigma Level (p. 79)
Step 4 Determine Process Capability (p. 83)
Capability Indices (p. 84)
Cycle Time (p. 86)
Step 5 Benchmark Process Leaders (p. 87)
7 The Analysis Phase (p. 91)
Step 1 Determine What Caused the Variation (p. 91)
Noise Variables (p. 93)
Step 2 Brainstorm Ideas for Process Improvements (p. 98)
Step 3 Determine Which Improvements Have the Greatest Impact on Customer Requirements (p. 99)
Step 4 Develop Proposed Process Map (p. 102)
Step 5 Assess Risks Associated with Revised Process (p. 104)
8 The Improvement Phase (p. 109)
Step 1 Gain Approval for the Proposed Changes (p. 109)
The Impact Assessment (p. 111)
Step 2 Finalize the Implementation Plan (p. 115)
Step 3 Implement the Approved Changes (p. 115)
9 The Control Phase (p. 119)
Step 1 Establish Key Metrics (p. 119)
Step 2 Develop the Control Strategy (p. 121)
Step 3 Celebrate and Communicate Success (p. 125)
Step 4 Implement the Control Plan (p. 125)
Step 5 Measure and Communicate Improvements (p. 125)
III Design for Six Sigma (p. 129)
10 Introduction to DFSS (p. 131)
The Need for DFSS (p. 131)
Defining DFSS (p. 132)
Phases of DFSS (p. 134)
Distinguishing between Six Sigma and DFSS (p. 136)
Background to the Case Study (p. 137)
11 The Identification of Opportunities Phase (p. 139)
Step 1 Define the Problem (p. 140)
Step 2 Form a Team (p. 140)
Step 3 Establish a Project Charter (p. 143)
Step 4 Develop a Project Plan (p. 145)
Step 5 Identify the Customers, Suppliers, and Stakeholders (p. 145)
Step 6 Identify Customer Requirements (p. 148)
Step 7 Identify CTQs (p. 156)
Step 8 Begin to Develop the QFD Matrix (p. 158)
12 The Definition of the Initial Design Phase (p. 163)
Step 1 Identify Potential Designs (p. 163)
Step 2 Evaluate the Potential Designs Using Pugh Concept Selection Techniques (p. 167)
Step 3 Identify Potential Failure Modes of the Most Feasible Design (p. 169)
Step 4 Expand the QFD with the Results of the Analyses (p. 170)
13 The Development of Concept Phase (p. 179)
Step 1 Define the Proposed Product and Process (p. 179)
Step 2 Identify Possible Causes of Variation in the Process (p. 181)
Step 3 Model the Design (p. 183)
Step 4 Identify Potential Risks and Mitigation Plans (p. 185)
Step 5 Develop Quality Measures for the Process (p. 187)
14 The Optimization Phase (p. 193)
The Challenge (p. 193)
Parameter Design (p. 194)
Tolerance Design (p. 196)
15 The Verification Phase (p. 199)
The Prototype (p. 200)
The Pilot (p. 202)
IV Six Sigma and the Traditional SDLC (p. 207)
16 Introduction to the Traditional SDLC (p. 209)
Advantages of the Traditional SDLC (p. 211)
SDLC Disadvantages (p. 211)
How Six Sigma Can Help (p. 212)
The Role of DFSS (p. 216)
17 Project Initiation (p. 219)
Step 1 Identify the Problem (p. 220)
Step 2 Form the Team (p. 222)
Step 3 Identify Preliminary Requirements (p. 223)
Begin to Develop a Thought Process Map (p. 223)
Develop the Initial Project Charter (p. 224)
Define the Problem Statement and Project Goals (p. 225)
Identify the Customers (p. 226)
Identify Key Outputs (p. 226)
Document the Current Process (p. 227)
Define High-Level Requirements (p. 228)
Step 4 Validate the Requirements (p. 228)
Step 5 Develop a Feasibility Study (p. 230)
Step 6 Obtain Project Approval (p. 232)
18 System Analysis (p. 237)
Step 1 Understand the Current Process (p. 239)
Step 2 Identify the Requirements (p. 241)
Step 3 Prioritize the Requirements (p. 243)
Step 4 Identify Potential Process Improvements (p. 246)
Step 5 Determine Which Improvements Will Have the Greatest Impact on the Highest Priority Requirements (p. 246)
Step 6 Create a Detailed "To-Be" Process Map (p. 247)
Step 7 Assess the Impact and Risks of the Proposed Process Improvements (p. 248)
Step 8 Complete the Development of the Conceptual Design (p. 248)
Step 9 Complete the Requirements Specification Document (p. 249)
Step 10 Obtain Approvals (p. 249)
19 System Design (p. 251)
Functional Design (p. 251)
Technical Design (p. 253)
Defect Prevention (p. 258)
Program Design (p. 260)
20 Construction (p. 263)
Structured Walk-Throughs (p. 263)
Defect Prevention (p. 264)
21 Testing and Quality Assurance (p. 267)
The Test Plan (p. 268)
Test Cases (p. 269)
The Unit Test (p. 271)
The System Test (p. 272)
The Integration Test (p. 272)
The Stress Test (p. 273)
The Acceptance Test (p. 275)
Six Sigma Tools for Testing (p. 275)
22 Implementation (p. 277)
Customer Training (p. 277)
Customer Documentation (p. 279)
Data Conversion (p. 281)
Project Evaluation (p. 281)
V Six Sigma and Legacy Systems (p. 283)
23 Introduction to Legacy Systems (p. 285)
The Challenge (p. 285)
Need for Change Management (p. 286)
When DFSS Can Help (p. 287)
24 Change Management in the IT Department (p. 289)
Step 1 Understand and Document the Process (p. 290)
Step 2 Define Success (p. 292)
Step 3 Identify and Mitigate Risks (p. 293)
Release-Based Maintenance (p. 293)
Step 4 Ensure that the Process Is Followed (p. 295)
25 System Maintenance and Support (p. 297)
Categorizing Maintenance (p. 297)
Six Sigma and System Support (p. 298)
Customer Focus (p. 299)
The Steering Committee (p. 300)
One or More Committees? (p. 301)
Charters and Agendas (p. 302)
Service Level Agreements (p. 303)
Customer Satisfaction Surveys (p. 306)
Ensuring Successful Maintenance (p. 310)
VI Incorporating Six Sigma into Other Development Methodologies (p. 311)
26 Rapid Application Development (p. 313)
JRP and JAD (p. 314)
The Role of DFSS (p. 314)
Selecting the Participants (p. 314)
The Role of the Facilitator (p. 315)
Optimizing the Meeting Location (p. 316)
Effective Sessions (p. 317)
Communication (p. 318)
27 Prototyping and Spiral Development (p. 321)
Prototyping (p. 322)
Spiral or Iterative Development (p. 323)
Phased Delivery (p. 326)
28 Client/Server and Web-Based Systems (p. 327)
The Challenge (p. 327)
Reducing Variation through Testing (p. 329)
VII Six Sigma and Packaged Software Implementation (p. 331)
29 Selecting Packaged Software (p. 333)
Advantages of Packaged Software (p. 333)
Guidelines for Success (p. 334)
Using Six Sigma to Increase the Probability of Success (p. 336)
The Selection Process (p. 337)
Step 1 Identify the Requirements (p. 338)
Step 2 Prioritize the Requirements (p. 339)
Step 3 Develop a List of Potential Vendors (p. 340)
Step 4 Obtain Product Information (p. 340)
Step 5 Perform a Preliminary Evaluation (p. 341)
Step 6 Conduct Initial Product Demos (p. 343)
Step 7 Perform Detailed Evaluation of "Short List" Vendors (p. 343)
Step 8 Identify Gaps between Products and Requirements (p. 344)
Step 9 Select Final Vendor (p. 345)
Step 10 Negotiate the Contract (p. 345)
30 Implementing Packaged Software (p. 349)
Preparing the Customer Department (p. 350)
Installing and Implementing the Software (p. 351)
Step 1 Communicate the Decision and Project Schedule (p. 351)
Step 2 Install and Test the Software with No Modifications (p. 351)
Step 3 Modify the Base Software and Retest (p. 352)
Step 4 Build Interfaces To and From Existing Systems (p. 352)
Step 5 Develop Data Conversion Programs and Procedures (p. 354)
Step 6 Develop and Conduct Customer Training (p. 354)
Step 7 Go Live (p. 354)
Step 8 Evaluate the Results (p. 355)
VIII Six Sigma and Outsourcing (p. 357)
31 Introduction to Outsourcing (p. 359)
Outsourcing versus Staff Augmentation (p. 359)
The Outsourcing Decision (p. 363)
What to Outsource (p. 363)
Personnel-Related Risks (p. 363)
Reasons for Outsourcing (p. 364)
Potential Disadvantages of Outsourcing (p. 365)
Strategies for Success (p. 366)
Choosing the Right Supplier (p. 366)
Categorizing the Engagement (p. 368)
Selecting the Supplier (p. 370)
Negotiating the Contract (p. 371)
Drafting a Comprehensive Contract (p. 372)
Establishing Effective SOWs and SLAs (p. 373)
Committing to Success (p. 374)
32 Effective Outsourcing (p. 377)
Where DFSS Can Help (p. 377)
Custom System Development (p. 378)
Packaged Software Implementation (p. 380)
System Maintenance (p. 381)
The Help Desk (p. 381)
Data Center Operations (p. 382)
The Control Plan (p. 382)
IX The Six Sigma IT Department (p. 385)
33 Putting It All Together (p. 387)
Define (p. 387)
Step 1 Define the Problem (p. 388)
Step 2 Form a Team (p. 388)
Step 3 Establish a Project Charter (p. 388)
Step 4 Develop a Project Plan (p. 388)
Step 5 Identify the Customers (p. 389)
Step 6 Identify Key Outputs (p. 389)
Step 7 Identify and Prioritize Customer Requirements (p. 389)
Step 8 Document the Current Process (p. 390)
Measure (p. 392)
Step 1 Determine What to Measure (p. 392)
Step 2 Conduct the Measurements (p. 392)
Step 3 Calculate Current Sigma Level (p. 392)
Step 4 Determine Process Capability (p. 392)
Step 5 Benchmark Process Leaders (p. 393)
Analyze (p. 393)
Step 1 Determine What Caused the Variation (p. 393)
Step 2 Brainstorm Ideas for Process Improvements (p. 394)
Step 3 Identify Greatest Impact Improvements (p. 394)
Step 4 Develop Proposed Process Map (p. 394)
Step 5 Assess the Risks (p. 395)
Improve (p. 395)
Step 1 Gain Approval for Proposed Changes (p. 395)
Step 2 Finalize the Implementation Plan (p. 395)
Step 3 Implement the Approved Changes (p. 395)
Control (p. 396)
Step 1 Establish Key Metrics (p. 396)
Step 2 Develop the Control Strategy (p. 396)
Putting It All Together (p. 396)
X Appendices (p. 399)
A The Project Charter (p. 401)
B The Functional Process Map (p. 407)
Mapping Conventions (p. 408)
C The Process Improvement Ranking Spreadsheet (p. 411)
D The Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) (p. 413)
E The Metric Reliability Assessment Spreadsheet (p. 419)
F The Quality Function Deployment (QFD) Matrix (p. 423)
G List of Acronyms (p. 431)
H Suggested Reading (p. 435)
Index (p. 437)