A method for designing, defining, and evolving software processes

The paper describes a recommended "how to" method for designing, defining and evolving software processes. This method addresses a vital practitioner question which arises during software process improvement efforts: "how should we develop and evolve process models and definitions?" Accomplishing the design, definition, and evolution of software processes is key to instituting continuous process improvement, satisfying various of the CMM/sup sm/ KPAs, and achieving related organizational goals. The method is intended to be applied by groups such as process action teams and software engineering process groups. The method features two models which depict and describe its primary steps. These two models are consistent with the fundamentals of most previous cyclical improvement and definition models, but offer a unique combination of advantageous characteristics not found in previous works.