University of California at Irvine
Irvine Research Unit in Software (IRUS) is proud to sponsor the

Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN)

Discussion of the Software Development Capability Evaluation (SDCE)

* Friday, January 29, 1999 *
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Student Center, Monarch Bay B
University of California, Irvine

There is a $15.00 charge for non-sponsors.
Checks should be made payable to UC Regents.
This Charge is waived for students and the unemployed.

Featured Speakers: Rita C. Creel, The Aerospace Corporation, rita.c.creel@aero.org
                                Bonnie R. Troup, The Aerospace Corporation,
                                bonnie.r.troup@aero.org

Department of Defense policy states that DoD design and development of systems must be based on systems engineering principles. For software-intensive systems, these principles include selecting contractors with domain experience in developing comparable software systems, a successful past performance record, and a demonstrable, mature software development process. At the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and Air Force Material Command (AFMC), two methods for evaluating contractor capability are in use. The first method is based on the Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model (CMM) for software and uses the Software Capability Evaluation (SCE) process. The second method is the Software Development Capability Evaluation (SDCE), which includes its own model and process. Conducting either of these evaluations during the source selection process increases the likelihood of selecting a contractor capable of developing the required software within program constraints. Additionally, the SCE and SDCE help identify and manage risks early in a program's lifecycle and provide a means to obtain contractual commitment to the use of sound software engineering practices throughout the lifecycle.

The purpose of our presentation is to introduce the SDCE and compare it with the SCE. We will begin with an historical background of the SDCE and a brief description of its model and process, including revisions to the model that were developed at The Aerospace Corporation. We will then compare the SDCE and SCE in terms of their purposes, models, and processes, review applications of the SDCE and SCE to various DoD programs, and discuss the benefits of their use. Finally, we will examine lessons learned from past evaluation experiences.

Biographies: Mrs. Rita C. Creel is Manager of the Acquisition Support Section in the Software Engineering Subdivision at The Aerospace Corporation, where she supports acquisition and analysis activities for large, software-intensive systems. Prior to joining Aerospace, Mrs. Creel worked in the Space and Technology Group at TRW, Inc., where she participated in and led full lifecycle software system development activities for communications and scientific satellite systems. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and Computer Science from California State University, Long Beach.

Mrs. Bonnie R. Troup is an Engineering Specialist with The Aerospace Corporation. Mrs. Troup has more than 12 years of experience in software engineering and software acquisition management; she is currently the corporate focal point for the SDCE. During her previous employment at TRW, Mrs. Troup was Project Engineer and software engineering lead, where she participated in an SCE. Her work at Aerospace includes software systems engineering consulting services for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), and the Milstar program, and coordinating SDCE efforts for several program offices. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from UC Riverside, and her Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Loyola Marymount University.

Coordinator: Sergio Alvarado, The Aerospace Corporation, alvarado@aero.org

UCI Maps and Directions to meeting are available.

Next Meeting:

Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 (a week earlier than usual)
Topic: Practical Software Measurement --
            A Guide to Objective Program Insight
Speaker: Leia White, Software Productivity Consortium
Coordinator: Leitha Purcell, Northrop Grumman Corporation

Sustaining:

The Boeing Company * Boeing North American, Inc. * Microsoft Corporation
Northrop Grumman Corporation * Raytheon Company * Sun Microsystems Laboratories * TRW

Supporting: Beckman Coulter * FileNet Corporation * Printronix, Inc.*

Continuus Software Corporation * Hewlett Packard