Ability-based view in action: a software corporation study

This research investigates antecedents, developments and consequences of dynamic capabilities in an organization. It contributes by searching theoretical and empirical answers to the questions: (a) What are the antecedents which can provide an organization with dynamic and ordinary capabilities?; (b) How do these antecedents contribute to create capabilities in an organization?; (c) How do they affect an organization's competitive advantage?; (d) Can we assess and measure the antecedents and consequences to an organization? From a first (theoretical) perspective, this paper searches answers to the first, second and third questions by reviewing concepts of an ability-based view of organizations that involves the abilities of cognition, intelligence, autonomy, learning and knowledge management, and which contributes to explain the dynamic behavior of the firm in the pursuit of competitive advantage. From a second (empirical) perspective, this paper reinforces and delivers findings to the second, third and fourth questions by presenting a case study that evidences the ability-based view in action in a software corporation, where it contributes by investigating: (a) the development of organizational capabilities; (b) the effects of the new capabilities on the organization; and (c) the assessment and measurement of the abilities and consequences

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J.D. Arthur and S.M. Henry, Eds., J.C. Baltzer AG, Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Available from the Center for Software Engineering, University of Southern California. Chidamber, S. and C. Kemerer (1994), "A Metrics Suite for Object Oriented Design," IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, (to appear 1994). Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB) National Research Council (1993), Computing Professionals: Changing Needs for the 1990's, National Academy Press, Washington DC, 1993. Devenny, T. (1976). "An Exploratory Study of Software Cost Estimating at the Electronic Systems Division," Thesis No. GSM/SM/765-4, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, OH. Gerlich, R., and U. Denskat (1994), "A Cost Estimation Model for Maintenance and High Reuse," Proceedings, ESCOM 1994, Ivrea, Italy. Goethert, W., E. Bailey, M. Busby (1992), "Software Effort and Schedule Measurement: A Framework for Counting Staff Hours and Reporting Schedule Information." CMU/S

Adapting PROFES for use in an agile process: An industry experience report

Background: Agile methods are starting to get established not only in new business organizations, but also in organizations dealing with innovation and early product development in more traditional branches like automotive industry. Customers of those organizations demand a specified quality of the delivered products. Objective: Adapt the PROFES Improvement Methodology for use in an industrial, agile process context, to ensure more predictable product quality. Method: An explorative case study at BMW Car IT, which included several structured interviews with stakeholders such as customers and developers. Result: Adapted PROFES methodology with regard to agility and initial product-process dependencies, which partially confirm some of the original PROFES findings. Conclusion: The cost-value ratio of applying PROFES as an improvement methodology in an agile environment has to be carefully considered