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How did SPINs get started?
What is a SPIN?
What are the benefits of participating in a SPIN?
What types of people typically participate in a SPIN?
How are the SPIN groups connected to the SEI?
What does the planning committee need to decide?
How often and when should we plan to meet?
How can we get the word out about our meetings?
What subcommittees or working groups do the existing SPINs have?
For More Information

How did SPINs get started?

A few people working on process improvement in the Washington D.C. area decided that they needed a practical forum for the interchange of ideas, information, and mutual support. Realizing that the SEI couldn't support all of the active improvement efforts, these professionals decided to create a mechanism by which Software Engineering and Systems Process Groups (SEPGs) could band together to provide mutual support and interaction not available through the SEI.

What is a SPIN?

A Software and Systems Process Improvement Network (SPIN) is an organization of software professionals in a given geographical area who are interested in software and systems process improvement. Each regional SPIN is slightly different, based on the vision of the founders and the needs of the community. Many organizations are operating on volunteered time and resources. Other organizations have an umbrella organization or a corporate sponsor that provides support. A number of SPINs charge membership or event fees.

What are the benefits of participating in a SPIN?

In two words: networking and leverage. The same two factors that have kept organizations like ACM and IEEE in business all of these years are driving the creation of SPINs all over the world. Because software and systems process improvement is a new and rapidly growing area, the opportunity to interact with other professionals with the same interest is invaluable.

The leverage that SPINs provide is also important. For example, when Texas Instruments in Dallas approached local universities about offering a Masters in Software Engineering (MSE) program, the universities resisted. When the Dallas/Fort Worth SPIN approached those same universities, they got a much more positive response. Several universities in the Dallas area now either offer an MSE program or are planning to offer one in the near future.

What types of people typically participate in a SPIN?

Most SPINs have members from industry, government, academia, professional organizations, and consultants.

How are the SPIN groups connected to the SEI?

Each SPIN is completely independent. The SEI exerts no control over any of the organizations. The SEI does, however, provide support in many ways. The most significant manner in which the SEI provides support is by enabling communication between SPIN founders and possible participants and among regional SPIN groups. By creating, maintaining, and distributing the SPIN Directory, the SEI is able to connect many software professionals with emerging or existing SPINs. The SEI also distributes this SPIN start-up information to anyone who is interested in forming a SPIN in their area. The SEI SPIN coordinator can also arrange for members of the SEI technical staff to speak at SPIN meetings.

What does the planning committee need to decide?

The first issue that needs to be addressed is the mission statement. Once you've articulated why your organization has been created, you can move on to decisions such as:

• Do you want to draft a charter and by-laws, or would you like to remain more informal? The DC SPIN has only a mission statement--no charter or by-laws. On the other hand, the Boston SPIN has a detailed charter.
• Who will run the SPIN--volunteers or elected officers?
• How are you going to fund the meetings? Many of the existing SPINs have one or more corporate, academic, or government sponsors who donate meeting space, reproduction services, clerical assistance, postage, etc.

How often and when should we plan to meet?

Many SPINs meet one evening a month. About a third of the SPINs meet during the day. A few SPINs meet on a bimonthly or quarterly basis. Some SPINs do not meet during the summer months or December. Consider what will work best for your constituency, and be willing to adapt and compromise.

How can we get the word out about our meetings?

You should maintain a mailing list and email list for meeting announcements. You can also consider contacting editors of local trade newsletters to see if they would be willing to mention your meetings in a calendar of events. Other SPINs use methods such as electronic newsgroup announcements, telephone trees, emails, and the Web.

What subcommittees or working groups do the existing SPINs have?

Some SPINs publish a regular newsletter. Many of the groups have a committee dealing with education and training issues, metrics, and quality assurance.