Explore the Program

The volatility of today's economy has organizations increasingly focused on maximizing the benefits (getting the biggest bang for their buck) from their improvement dollars. This has led to a rise in the number of organizations adopting a multi-model approach to process improvement. Presentations in this track may include insights on how the multi-model approach combines components of improvement models, technologies, and standards to create a customized solution to a business problem or goal. Presentations will illustrate—through case–studies and real–world examples—that to successfully apply a multi-model approach, organizations need to be able to articulate their business problems and goals, understand the benefits of the various improvement models, technologies, and standards, and know how to capitalize on the combination.

For many organizations, achieving and maintaining CMMI high maturity practices is a hard-earned goal with rewarding benefits. High maturity practices enable organizations to reduce costs, improve quality, achieve excellence, efficiently and effectively meet their business objectives, and create and sustain momentum for improvement. These benefits extend beyond the organization to its customers. This track includes presentations that document real-world implementations of high maturity processes. Presentations will illustrate the characteristics of high maturity processes and organizations, provide examples of how statistical methods and tools can be applied to assist the proper implementation of high maturity practices, and quantitatively show the results. Presentations may also explore process performance baselines, process performance models, control charts, and other techniques supporting maturity levels 4 and 5, or provide examples of the use of the Team Software Process (TSP) or Six Sigma with CMMI levels 4 and 5.

Appraisal is an integral portion of the improvement life cycle. Knowing where the organization is with respect to the conduct of its processes is fundamental to developing improvement plans and measuring the impact of improvement initiatives. This track includes presentations addressing all aspects of the appraisal lifecycle (planning, training, gathering, managing, and appraising). Presentations may explore lessons learned from conducting CMMI V1.3 appraisals, approaches, and challenges with managing appraisals, determining the appraisal scope, sampling and determining the data collection strategy, and managing appraisal data.

To remain competitive in today's economy, organizations and individuals must continuously improve. Process improvement efforts help organizations identify process strengths and weaknesses, motivate individuals and teams, keep tasking on track, communicate progress effectively, and ultimately deliver quality on time and within budget to meet their business objectives. This track includes lessons learned and case studies—both positive and negative—from process improvement efforts. The purpose of this track is to provide real-life examples and ideas that attendees can take back to their organizations and (re)use. Presentations in this track include the real path taken and results along with sufficient context for the audience to learn from your experience. While positive results are always beneficial, it is also important to learn from our mistakes.

When it comes to process improvement, we all have to start somewhere, and taking that first step can often be difficult and confusing. Activities such as garnering and sustaining sponsorship, planning and overseeing all aspects of a project, managing data, selecting a team, initiating a measurement program, and project management concepts (e.g., how to manage a process improvement effort) are commonly identified as important during the start up of a process improvement initiative. This track includes presentations that offer advice and guidance on how to begin a process improvement initiative. Presentations in this track will provide practical advice and strategic insights to attendees who are getting started with process improvement.

As technology rapidly continues to evolve, organizations must develop their abilities to identify and analyze emerging trends and individual technologies that might be beneficial for their end products and services, as well as for their process improvement efforts. This track includes presentations that discuss technologies on the engineering horizon, and how these may benefit and be incorporated into engineering and process improvement endeavors.

It has long been recognized that the culture of an organization and the people and teams inside the organization play an important role in the success or failure of any improvement effort. It is us, the people, the individuals who make up our organizations, who empower organizational performance at the highest levels. Presentations in this track provide insight into the necessity and benefits of considering these elements in a process improvement initiative and their impact on the selection of strategy and tactics. Presentations in this track will engage, challenge, and inspire attendees to recognize, support, and honor the individuals with their skills, talents, and foibles.

To address the information security issues of the 21st century organization, process improvement concepts and practices are being applied to the areas of organizational security, business continuity, and aspects of IT operations managements. The Resilience Management Model (RMM) and the OCTAVE® Method and their associated tools, techniques, technologies, methods, and training help organizations to manage operational risk and improve operations resiliency. This track includes presentations that provide case studies, examples, or insights related to security and resilience.

Perhaps now more than ever, it is vital for process improvement professionals to differentiate themselves and seek out tools that help them advance their career and fulfill their potential. The professional development track includes presentations on career roadmapping; interviewing, negotiating, and consulting abilities; maintaining certification; and honing change-agent skills.