The SEI Podcast Series will highlight the work of SEI researchers with different backgrounds, expertise, and interests. Some episodes will summarize the goals and results of advanced research projects at the cutting edge of science and technology. Other episodes will highlight the work of SEI technologists with customer-facing roles on applied, transition- and acquisition-oriented topics. http://sei.cmu.edu/podcasts Thu, 23 May 2013 15:32:42 GMT In this episode, Peter Feiler discusses his recent work to improve the quality of software-reliant systems through an approach known as the Reliability Validation and Improvement Framework. The purpose of the framework is to facilitate early defect discovery and incremental end-to-end validation. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=EBAD1AD5-0079-1BAB-6EC010E85A4239F4&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=ReliabilityValidationandImprovementFramework Thu, 09 May 2013 14:57:15 GMT In this podcast, Joe Elm discusses the results of a recent technical report, The Business Case for Systems Engineering, which establishes clear links between the application of systems engineering (SE) best practices to projects and programs and the performance of those projects and programs. The report clearly shows that projects that do more SE perform better in terms of meeting budgets, schedules, and technical requirements. The survey population consisted of projects and programs executed by system developers reached through the National Defense Industrial Association Systems Engineering Division, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society, and the International Council on Systems Engineering. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=D1CB7A9A-94FC-CAF3-4BACF6CA8BAFAB0F&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=TheBusinessCaseforSystemsEngineering Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:13:57 GMT In this episode, the first in a series by Suzanne Miller and Mary Ann Lapham exploring the application of agile principles in the Department of Defense (DoD), the two researchers discuss the application of the first principle, “Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.” http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=56FC4785-C59C-A419-B105D2D9E723C7EC&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=ApplyingAgileintheDepartmentofDefense Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:03:50 GMT Analysis work by the SEI on data collected from more than 100 independent technical assessments (ITAs) of software-reliant acquisition programs has produced insights into some of the most common ways that programs encounter difficulties. In this episode, Bill Novak and Andy Moore describe a recent technical report, The Evolution of a Science Project, which is based on these insights, and intends to mitigate the effects of both misaligned acquisition program organizational incentives, and adverse software-reliant acquisition structural dynamics, by improving acquisition staff decision-making. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=32E3E4F2-F5E4-6A77-803D6ACF208118F3&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=TheEvolutionofaScienceProject Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:41:46 GMT In this episode, Peter Feiler, primary author of the Architecture Analysis & Design Language (AADL) standard, discusses the latest changes to the standard, the second version of which was released in January 2009. First published in 2004 by SAE International, AADL is a modeling notation that employs both a textual and graphical representation to provide modeling concepts to describe the runtime architecture of application systems in terms of concurrent tasks, their interactions, and their mapping onto an execution platform. Development organizations use AADL to conduct lightweight, rigorous, yet comparatively inexpensive analyses of critical real-time factors such as performance, dependability, security, and data integrity. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=FEC3F8C9-91DC-BF0A-32D580CBE933BAD3&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=What'sNewWithVersion2oftheAADLStandard? Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:54:16 GMT In 2012, representatives from the government approached the SEI Innovation Center about conducting research to assess the state of the practice of cyber intelligence. The overall intent is to expose industry to the best practices in capabilities and methodologies developed by the government, and for the government to learn from the process efficiencies and tools used in industry. In areas where both the government and industry are experiencing challenges, the SEI can leverage its expertise to develop and prototype innovative technologies and processes that can benefit all participants in the program. In this podcast, Troy Townsend and Jay McAllister discuss their findings with Suzanne Miller, a researcher at the SEI. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=B1D093B1-B100-0296-B7F884048AC21C06&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=TheStateofthePracticeofCyberIntelligence Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:31:42 GMT In this podcast, Michael Bandor discusses technology readiness assessments, which the Department of Defense defines as a formal, systematic, metrics-based process and accompanying report that assess the maturity of critical hardware and software technologies to be used in systems. In a discussion with fellow researcher Suzanne Miller, Bandor discusses the latest developments with TRAs and his experiences. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=3C3F3F1E-F444-6891-CF61C24EC97ADD38&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=TechnologyReadinessAssessments Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:36:34 GMT Organizations that use the cloud want the ability to easily move workloads and data from one cloud provider to another or between private and public clouds. A common tactic for enabling interoperability is the use of open standards, and many cloud standardization projects are developing standards for the cloud. In this podcast, Grace Lewis discusses her latest research exploring the role of standards in cloud-computing interoperability, which covers cloud-computing basics, standard-related efforts, cloud-interoperability use cases, and provides some recommendations for moving forward with cloud-computing adoption regardless of the maturity of standards for the cloud. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=019EDC08-C84D-AAC5-055DA1944DB31FA3&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=StandardsinCloudComputingInteroperability Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:43:05 GMT In this episode, Julien Delange and Peter Feiler discuss the latest developments with the Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL) standard. First published in 2004 by SAE International, AADL is a modeling notation that employs both a textual and graphical representation. AADL provides modeling concepts to describe the runtime architecture of application systems in terms of concurrent tasks, their interactions, and their mapping onto an execution platform. Development organizations use AADL to conduct lightweight, rigorous, yet comparatively inexpensive analyses of critical real-time factors such as performance, dependability, security, and data integrity. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=727E84DB-CDB0-5DE1-7AC24DADF26A5200&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=TheLatestDevelopmentsinAADL Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:39:45 GMT In today's fast-paced, global economy, industry and government customers demand innovation coupled with the ability to adapt products and systems to rapidly changing needs. At the same time, the time frame for developing software continues to shorten. As a result, agile software development processes like Scrum and Extreme Programming, with their emphasis on releasing new software capabilities rapidly, are increasing in popularity beyond small teams and individual projects. In this episode, Tim Chick, a senior member of the technical staff in the Team Software Process (TSP) initiative, discusses the fundamentals of agile, specifically what it means for an organization to be agile and provides three criteria for organizations seeking to implement agile. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=2A79C795-026A-B03D-51D006D8AD15DBFB&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=TheFundamentalsofAgile Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:02:29 GMT Whether soldiers are on the battlefield or providing humanitarian relief effort, they need to capture and process a wide range of text, image, and map-based information. To support soldiers in this effort, the Department of Defense is beginning to equip soldiers with smartphones to allow them to manage that vast array and amount of information they encounter while in the field. Whether the information gets correctly conveyed up the chain of command depends, in part, on the soldier's ability to capture accurate data while in the field. In this episode, Ed Morris describes research to create a software application for smartphones that allows soldier end-users to program their smartphones to provide an interface tailored to the information they need for a specific mission. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=01F563EE-0491-803C-FD4135C8B347A1B2&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=SoftwareforSoldierswhouseSmartphones Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:32:38 GMT A common misconception is that developers using a service-oriented architecture can achieve system qualities such as interoperability and modifiability by simply integrating a set of vendor products that provide an infrastructure. Developers often believe they may then use this infrastructure to expose a set of reusable services to build systems. In reality, developers need to make many architectural decisions. In this episode, Grace Lewis discusses general guidelines for architecting service-oriented systems, how common service-oriented system components support these principles, and the effect these principles and their implementation have on system quality attributes. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=770ED4B0-E817-AEF7-D637B139CE2D54EE&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=ArchitectingService-OrientedSystems Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:18:16 GMT In this podcast, Bill discusses the development of the long-term, technical strategic plan of the SEI to advance the practice of software engineering for the Department of Defense (DoD) through research and technology transition involving the DoD, federal agencies, industry, and academia. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=09DFC284-DBAA-2B7D-5F5A92E8BBE53EB7&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=TheSEIStrategicPlan Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:17:44 GMT By law, major defense acquisition programs are now required to prepare cost estimates earlier in the acquisition lifecycle, including pre-Milestone A, well before concrete technical information is available on the program being developed. Estimates are therefore often based on a desired capability-or even on an abstract concept-rather than a concrete technical solution plan to achieve the desired capability. Hence the role and modeling of assumptions becomes more challenging. In today's podcast episode, Jim McCurley and Robert Stoddard discuss a new method developed by the SEI's Software Engineering Measurement and Analysis (SEMA) team, Quantifying Uncertainty in Early Lifecycle Cost Estimation (QUELCE). QUELCE is a method for improving pre-Milestone A software cost estimates through research designed to improve judgment regarding uncertainty in key assumptions (called "program change drivers"), the relationships among the program change drivers, and their impact on cost. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=BD60D188-AC6E-714B-10F420705985285B&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=QuantifyingUncertaintyinEarlyLifecycleCostEstimation Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:57:38 GMT The SEI recently worked with Bursatec to create a reliable and fast new trading system for Groupo Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, the Mexican Stock Exchange. This project combined elements of the SEI's Architecture Centric Engineering (ACE) method, which requires effective use of software architecture to guide system development, with its Team Software Process (TSP), which is a team-centric approach to developing software that enables organizations to better plan and measure their work. In this episode, Felix Bachmann and James McHale discuss their work on the project. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=798090AD-D76B-2597-A7FBC05FC9096AC9&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=ArchitectingaFinancialSystemwithTSP Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:23:36 GMT Organizations rely on valid data to make informed decisions. When data integrity is compromised, the veracity of the decision-making process is likewise threatened. In this episode, Dave Zubrow discusses the importance of data quality and research that his team is undertaking in this area. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=2D20D3AC-9E21-AC54-D796FCD84E67A288&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=TheImportanceofDataQuality Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:05:37 GMT In this episode, Novak discusses misaligned incentives, misaligned people incentives in software acquisition programs, and how the wrong incentives can undermine acquisition programs and produce poor outcomes. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=E42F90D1-90A2-4F80-D9093B8659BD2D09&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=MisalignedIncentives Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:16:47 GMT Soldiers can use handheld mobile computing devices (aka smart-phones) to help with various tasks, such as speech and image recognition, natural language processing, decision making and mission planning. There are challenges to achieving these capabilities such as unreliable networks and bandwidth, lack of computational power, and the toll that computation-intensive tasks take on battery power. In this episode, Grace discusses research that she is leading to overcome these challenges by using cloudlets, which are localized, lightweight servers running one or more virtual machines on which soldiers can offload expensive computations from their handheld mobile devices, thereby providing greater processing capacity and helping conserve battery power. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=68B28B03-FD7F-D666-A4082256CE983AC2&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=CloudComputingfortheBattlefield Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:12:40 GMT Managing technical debt, which refers to the rework and degraded quality resulting from overly hasty delivery of software capabilities to users, is an increasingly critical aspect of producing cost-effective, timely, and high-quality software products. A delicate balance is needed between the desire to release new software capabilities rapidly to satisfy users and the desire to practice sound software engineering that reduces rework. In this podcast, Ipek Ozkaya discusses the SEI's research on the strategic management of technical debt, which involves decisions made to defer necessary work during the planning or execution of a software project. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=7DAB3EB2-EE68-98EF-5D6389B629AC2836&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=AnArchitecture-FocusedMeasurementFrameworkforManagingTechnicalDebt Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:19:45 GMT The SEI is focused on reducing the DoD information technology (IT) development cycle currently as long as 81 months to short, incremental approaches that yield results more quickly. One complicating factor is that DoD acquisition programs (like other highly-regulated commercial environments) have a prescribed vision of how IT systems are developed. This podcast explores the SEI's research and work to assist the DoD in Agile acquisition. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=7D03CB1F-9D60-C314-66526F8E8B2864B8&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=AgileAcquisition Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:42:11 GMT Typically, people who believe themselves to be Agile, believe that developers realize the best results when they focus on empowered teams, collaboration with stakeholders, avoiding unnecessary work, and receiving frequent feedback. Agilests hate the term "process" because they use the word somewhat differently than we do. The word "process," however, can be defined as something done repeatedly, with some discipline, and to achieve an end. In this podcast, Bill Nichols discusses how a disciplined process enables and enhances agility. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/podcasts/index.cfm?getRecord=916FA0D7-CE9E-F5A4-F204ABFDE2ACA060&WT.rss_f=SEIPodcasts&WT.rss_a=HowaDisciplinedProcessEnhances&EnablesAgility