A Meta-model Framework for Software Process Modeling

We present a refined version of a meta-model process modeling framework that can be effectively used to identify key practices to initiate and sustain a software process improvement effort focused on a single process area. Our approach moves away from the overall software development process and computation of maturity levels and focuses on a particular process area or task and its key practices. In determining process key practices our framework takes into account not only the process dimension but also the quality and usability/costumer satisfaction of the products produced or services provided by the process. The refined version of the model gives suggested types of key practices and useful questions and hints for constructing these key practices. We show the completeness, flexibility and ease of using this proposed meta-model by applying it to two particular process areas: the Software Configuration Management support process and the Testing process, generating a set of key practices we believe adequately cover the key issues to properly drive a process improvement effort.