A process defines who is doing what, when, and how to reach a certain goal.

A Process Framework

• establishes the foundation for a complete software process

• identifies a small number of framework activities

• applies to all s/w projects, regardless of size/complexity.

• also, set of umbrella activities

• applicable across entire s/w process.

Each framework activity has

• set of s/w engineering actions.

Each s/w engineering action (e.g., design) has

• collection of related tasks (called task sets):

  • work tasks

  • work products (deliverables)

  • quality assurance points

  • project milestones.

The following are the set of Umbrella Activities.

1) Software project tracking and control – allows the software team to assess progress against the project plan and take necessary action to maintain schedule.

2) Risk Management - assesses risks that may affect the outcome of the project or the quality of the product.

3) Software Quality Assurance - defines and conducts the activities required to ensure software quality.

4) Formal Technical Reviews - assesses software engineering work products in an effort to uncover and remove errors before they are propagated to the next action or activity.

5) Measurement - define and collects process, project and product measures that assist the team in delivering software that needs customer’s needs, can be used in conjunction with all other framework and umbrella activities.

6) Software configuration management - manages the effects of change throughout the software process.

7) Reusability management - defines criteria for work product reuse and establishes mechanisms to achieve reusable components.

8) Work Product preparation and production - encompasses the activities required to create work products such as models, document, logs, forms and lists.