IMPROVING SOFTWARE PRODUCTIVITY USING LEAN SIX SIGMA METHODS AND TOOLS ABSTRACT Kevin

Abstract

Although equations and models have existed for some time, the means to easily apply this knowledge to software product development to improve productivity have been long in coming. Macro tools such as Crystal Ball ® software provide an excellent way to achieve software productivity aims. This was accomplished by modeling software development effort, effects due to software size and complexity as well as quality issues against a schedule constraint. As a Six Sigma project, a software spiral build cycle was modeled as the baseline. After doing a diagnostic/root cause analysis, various methods were identified that could effect improvement in software productivity such as more testing, improved peer reviews (PR), and reducing software complexity. The first improvement for the next build cycle focused on improving the peer review process. Crystal Ball was used to predict the impact of this change on productivity and in reducing the Cost of Poor Quality. Results on the Weather Data Analysis Capability (WDAC) program as of this posting were improvement in productivity by 25%, reduction in rework by 57 % and reduction in cost due to poor quality by over $250K / build or$1M over two years for this particular contract. Recent results from the Joint Environmental Toolkit (JET) program have been over $336K per build so far.