The document provides an overview of the GQM+Strategies process for organizational process improvement. It describes the six phases of the process: 1. Initialize - Involves securing management commitment, defining the scope, and training people. 2. Characterize the Environment - Refines the scope and specifies the characteristics of the application environment. 3. Define Goals, Strategies, and Measurement - Defines the GQM+Strategies grid by identifying goals, strategies, and associated metrics. 4. Plan Grid Implementation - Specifies plans for implementing strategies and collecting/analyzing measurement data. 5. Execute Plans - Deploys the strategies, collects and analyzes data, and provides feedback

1. Software Quality Management
PA2557
Process improvement processes.
GQM+Strategies.
Conny Johansson

2. Process improvement processes
• There exist a number of different improvement
processes of different size, granularity and
complexity
• We will have look at three processes
– PDCA, Plan Do Check Act (Shewart)
– APIM, Accelerating Process Improvement
Methodology (Jacobs)
– GQM+Strategies (in detail)

3. Shewhart's PDCA improvement cycle
• Plan
• Identify/analyze the problem
• Develop hypotheses
• Decide which one to test
• Do
• Test the potential solution
• Small scale test
• Measure the result
• Check
• Check/study the result
• Measure effectiveness
• Compare with the hypotheses
chosen
• Act
• If successful solution – implement it
widely

4. Plan
• Input
• Some indications of what the
problem is
• Understand the problem
• Model compliance? CMMI,
TickITplus
• Experience
• Legislation
• Planning
• How to assess?
• How to improve?
• Choose among alternatives
• Document alternatives
• Define activities
• Establish objectives
• Define success criteria

5. Do
• Carry out the activities
• Test in a small scale!
• Preferably focus on small
changes to see how
effective the solution is
• Avoid large scale trials

6. Check
• Study the results achieved in the
Do phase
• Compare against the expected
results
• Consider checking intermediate
results from the Do-phase
• Determine differences
• Analyse for deviations
• Base the analysis on facts
• Review the result in a group
meeting, e.g.
• Focus on doing the right things

7. Act
• Adopt or abandon the change
• Base the decision on the
measurements and comparisons in
the Check phase
• Continue to perform the PDCA cycle
• Base the next step on the actions
and results in the previous initiatives
• The improved process becomes
your new baseline for new
improvements
• If the change is abandoned or not
sufficient go to Plan phase
• If abandoned provide the
experiences to the Plan phase:
consider choosing another
alternative or a new alternative in
the Plan phase

8. APIM Overview (Jacobs)

9. APIM steps
• Launch
– Set goals. Executive management buy-in
– Resources, budget and initial schedule
– Market and communicate
• Planning
– Clarify goals and communication
• Awareness
– Of potential improvements

10. APIM steps, cont.
• Triage
– Prioritization
• Resolution
– Evaluate solutions and implement
• Training
– Solution is ready, training before deployment

11. APIM steps, cont.
• Deployment
– Piloting
• Trial
– Evaluate pilot before general implementation
• Appraise
– Evaluate formally if requested
• Improve
– Communicate and celebrate

12. Why GQM+Strategies?
• To stay competitive
• To grow the organization, or just survive
• You need to align the organization to goals and
strategies
• You need improvement programs
• You need to measure, to know
• Measurements make things specific
• A systemized approach is promoting success

13. GQM+Strategies
• Independent of organizational type and domain
(industrial sector)
• Consists of a model – a grid
– Focus on goals and strategies
• Consists of a process
– Creates the model
– Implements the strategies
– Collects and analyses data
– Initiate improvement actions

14. GQM+Strategies - results
• Proven improved alignment
• Proven improved communication
• Improved decision-making
• Case studies are presented in the book

15. Organizational planning and control

16. GQM+Strategies Grid
combines data from different GQM structures - optimizing the process

17. GQM+Strategies Process
DEVELOP
LEARN

18. 0. Initialize
DEVELOP
LEARN

19. Initialize - Overview
Initialize application of the GQM+Strategies approach
Objective Setup of conditions for the successful application of GQM+Strategies by
securing the commitment of management and the appropriate resources for
using the method.
Furthermore, responsibilities are defined, the application process is planned,
and appropriate training is provided for all people involved
Inputs • Overview and motivation talk (presentation slides)
• Tutorial on the GQM+Strategies approach (presentation slides)
Activities 1. Get commitment
2. Specify scope
3. Plan the GQM+Strategies application process
4. Train people
Outcomes • Commitment of management to apply GQM+Strategies, i.e., regarding the
resources and infrastructure required for the method’s application
• Initial scope and plan for applying GQM+Strategies
• Trained staff that will be involved in the GQM+Strategies application

20. Initialize - activities
1. Get commitment
• Management commitment
2. Specify scope
• Organizational scope
3. Plan the GQM+Strategies application process
4. Train people

21. 1. Characterize the environment
DEVELOP
LEARN

22. Characterize.. - Overview
Characterize environment of the GQM+Strategies application
Objective Characterize the context of the GQM+Strategies application by refining the
organizational scope of the method’s application and specifying the
characteristics of the application environment
Inputs • Initial scope and plan for applying GQM+Strategies (output of the
“0. Initialize” phase)
• Description of the organizational structure (such as an organizational chart)
Activities 1. Characterize the environment
Outcomes • Any updates to the scope of the GQM+Strategies and the related
organizational chart during this cycle
• Characteristics of the GQM+Strategies application environment: context
factors and assumptions

23. 1. Characterize the environment
• Context factors for the organizational scope
• Assumptions
• Questions to ask:
– Size?
– Processes?
– Type of product?
– Organizational rules?
– Boundaries?
– Work environment?
– User interface, security or safety products?

24. 2. Define Goals, Strategies, and
Measurement
DEVELOP
LEARN

25. Define Goals.. - Overview
Define goals, strategies, and measurement
Objective Define the GQM+Strategies grid using existing assets where possible. This
means defining and aligning organizational goals and strategies, documenting
rationales in the form of context factors and assumptions, and defining the
appropriate measures and interpretation models
Inputs • Scope of the GQM+Strategies application and the related organizational
chart
• Characteristics of the GQM+Strategies application environment: context
factors and assumptions
Activities 1. Identify existing assets
2. Select relevant assets
3. Build up GQM+Strategies grid
a) Elicit specific context and assumptions
b) Define organizational goals
c) Make strategy decisions
d) Refine GQM+Strategies element
e) Define GQM graphs
4. Review and adjust grid
Outcomes • The full GQM+Strategies grid for the proposed application scope

26. Activities
1. Identify existing assets
– Already existing goals and objectives
– Data currently collected
– Measurement procedures currently used
2. Select relevant assets
– Remove irrelevant assets identified in 1.
above

27. 3. Build up GQM+Strategies grid
a) Elicit specific context and assumptions
1. Gather context factors
2. Adjust context factors and assumptions
b) Define organizational goals
1. Identify potential goals
2. Select promising goals
3. Formalize and document selected goals
You must now where you are before you know where to go.
You must know the current measure before defining the new goal.
You may define hypotheses.

28. 3. Build up GQM+Strategies grid
c) Make strategy decisions
1. Derive potential strategies for each goal
2. Decide on strategies
Brainstorm, analyze, evaluate, decide
d) Refine GQM+Strategies element
– Iterate until it is complete
e) Define GQM graphs
– See next slides

29. GQM+Strategies Grid

30. GQM goal template
Analyze some Object of the study: processes, products,
other experience models
To Purpose: characterize, evaluate, predict,
motivate, control, improve, etc.
With respect to Focus: cost, correctness, defect removal,
changes, reliability, user friendliness, etc.
From the point of view of Viewpoint: user, customer, manager,
developer, corporation, etc.
In the following context Environment: problem factors, people
factors, resource factors, process factors,
etc.

31. Define Goals… - Activities
4. Review and Adjust Grid
– If necessary

32. Possible classes of goals
• Growth goals,
– acquire new projects with current competence areas; expand existing
projects set; evolve existing competencies; build new competencies
• Success goals,
– deliver good products to customers; control costs; shrink schedule;
increase profits; get corporate visibility (awards, etc.), build core
competence
• Maintain goals,
– transparency, employee satisfaction, controlled risk, learning
environment (here we might want to measure to assure there is no
decrease in these goals)
• Specific focus goals,
– make helpdesk more efficient, predict if proposed effort has a good ROI,
increase integration with rest of the company

33. Goals, examples; GQM
• Increase revenue
• Increase profit
• Improve customer satisfaction
• Improve support
• Improve leadership
• Improve quality

34. Organizational questions, GQM
• How can we improve our revenue with regards
to product segment xxx?
• For which products can we efficiently grow our
revenue and profit?
• How can we utilize our resources in a better
way?
• Which new competencies do we need to focus
on?

35. Metrics, GQM
• Revenue:
– Current measurement: 25 MEURO, 2021
– Target measurement: 32 MEURO, 2023
• Productivity:
– Current measurement: 15 stories/sprint, 2021
– Target measurement: 20 stories/sprint, 2023
• Incident answering time:
– Current measurement: 30 minutes, 2021
– Target measurement: 10 minutes, 2023
• Fault correction time, high priority faults:
– Current measurement: 4 hours/fault, 2021
– Target measurement: 1 hour/fault, 2023

36. 3. Plan Grid Implementation
DEVELOP
LEARN

37. Plan Grid.. - Overview
Plan grid implementation
Objective Specify plans for operationalizing the GQM+Strategies grid in the organization.
This means preparing plans for implementing and deploying organizational
strategies defined in the grid and for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting the
measurement data according to the metrics and interpretation models specified
in the grid
Inputs • GQM+Strategies grid
• Documentation of current work processes within the scope of the
GQM+Strategies application (e.g., in the form of process models)
Activities 1. Develop strategy plans
2. Develop measurement plans
3. Train the personnel
Outcomes • Strategy plans
• Measurement plan

38. Plan Grid… - Activities
1. Develop strategy plans
– Should be few projects
– May include identifying, analyzing, adjusting,
specification of prerequisites, workshops, etc.
2. Develop measurement plans
– Data collection, validation and storage
– Data aggregation, analysis and interpretation

39. Plan Grid… - Activities
2. Develop measurement plans
– Visualization and communication of results
– Identify current practices
– Adjust current practices
– Prepare tools and infrastructure
3. Train personnel
See examples in the book, pp. 82-

40. 4. Execute Plans
DEVELOP
LEARN

41. Execute Plans - Overview
Execute grid implementation plans
Objective Deploy and apply the strategies as specified in the Choose Process step,
analyze their performance, and provide feedback based upon learning from the
defined strategic projects
Inputs • The GQM+Strategies grid
• Strategy plans
• Measurement plan
Activities 1. Execute strategies
2. Collect and analyze data
3. Provide feedback
Outcomes • The results of the deployed and implemented strategies
• The updated (if adjusted) GQM+Strategies grid, strategy plans, and
measurement plans (adjusted as necessary)
• Feedback: Experiences regarding the deployment and implementation of
the organizational strategies
• Measurement data

42. Execute Plans - Activities
1. Execute strategies
2. Collect and Analyze Data
– Collect Measurement Data
– Validate data
– Analyze data
– Visualize data
– Interpret analysis results
3. Provide feedback

43. 5. Analyze Outcomes
DEVELOP
LEARN

44. Analyze outcomes - Overview
Analyze outcomes
Objective The objective of this phase is to analyze and visualize the data and other forms
of feedback from the “Execute Plans” phase, leading to an evaluation of the
process and the GQM+Strategies grid
Inputs • Measurement data (collected through the “Execute Plans” phase)
• The final version of the GQM+Strategies grid and the processes used
• Feedback from the experiences to date
Activities 1. Validate and analyze the measurement data
2. Visualize and interpret the measurement data
3. Identify potential improvements
Outcomes • Results of the analysis regarding the success of the strategies and
attainment of the goals
• Improvement potentials for future GQM+Strategies grids and processes

45. 6. Package Improvements
DEVELOP
LEARN

46. Package Improvements- Overview
Package improvements
Objective The objective of this phase is to package, store, and communicate the
experiences gathered in the previous phases and to create a revised version of
the GQM+Strategies grid as well as the related strategy and measurement
plans. If we were successful in achieving our goals and everything worked out
well, no changes to the grid are necessary.
Inputs • The GQM+Strategies grid
• Strategy plans
• Measurement plan
• Improvement potentials (based on lessons learned and analysis results) for
developing future GQM+Strategies grids, plans for the application of
strategies, and plans for measurement and analysis.
Activities 1. Revise grid and plans (including processes)
2. Communicate outcomes
3. Manage experience (store grid, plans, lessons learned, and analysis
results)
4. Initiate a new cycle
Outcomes • Revised GQM+Strategies grid and processes (if required)
• Revised strategy plans and processes (if required)
• Revised measurement plan and processes (if required)

47. Do it all over again and again..
DEVELOP
LEARN

48. So what can trigger an
improvement??
• Negative sales trend
• Customer satisfaction index
negative
• A lot of errors in operation
• Deliveries are late
• Development budget overruns
• Requirements are not fulfilled
• Too many contract
negotiations
• A lot of faults in internal tests
• Reviews show poor results
• The sprint demos do not work
• Faults appear that haven’t
been there before
• People leave the organization
frequently
• Internal employee surveys
shows poor results
• Processes are not followed
• The development environment
crashes
• “Bad” words at meetings
• Etc. etc.