Six Sigma Application

Paper Summary:

This research paper provides an overview of Six Sigma and quality management principles. The writer presents a discussion of the difficulties of implementing Six Sigma in software quality, followed by an examination of the applicability of employing the capability maturity model (CMM) to Six Sigma to provide an integrated approach to improve software quality. This article offers a review of the relevant and scholarly literature to determine how Six Sigma and CMM can operate in tandem through the oversight of a project management office. A summary of the research and key findings are presented in the conclusion.

Outline:
Introduction
Difficulties of Applying Six Sigma in Software Development
Background and Overview
Integrating Six Sigma with the Capability Maturity Model
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In reality, this is not as complicated as it sounds; in many ways, the Six Sigma approach mimics many aspects of the Total Quality Management (TQM) and Capability Maturity Model approaches in that it continually seeks to identify opportunities for improvement in an organization's operations and processes by developing quantifiable measures that can be tracked over time to discern trends. Furthermore, these types of management techniques have been facilitated by the introduction of computer-assisted applications that provide managers with the graphic representations of this data that help determine where improvements need to be made and who should make them."
"In this regard, Thorn reports that the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is one of most commonly accepted standards and measures of effective project management. Developed by the Carnegie-Mellon University (CMU) Software Engineering Institute (SEI) with sponsorship by the Department of Defense, the CMM provides timely descriptions of the primary elements of an effective software development and project management process that can be used to provide the basis for continuous process improvement."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bertels, T. (2003). Rath & Strong's Six Sigma leadership handbook. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
• Cook, J., & Semouchtchak, V. (2004). Lean object-oriented software development. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 69(2), 12.
• Hahn, G. I., Hill, W. J., Hoerl, R. W., & Zinkgraf, S. A. (1999). The impact of Six Sigma improvement-A glimpse into the future of statistics. The American Statistician, 53(3), 208.
• Mccabe, P. T. (2004). Contemporary ergonomics 2004. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
• Meyer, M. W. (2002). Rethinking performance measurement: Beyond the balanced scorecard. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

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