The IDEAL model is a software process improvement program model used to guide long-range SPI initiatives. It consists of 5 phases - Initiating, Diagnosing, Establishing, Acting, and Leveraging - that form a continuous loop for SPI. In the Initiating phase, the initial infrastructure is established including a steering group and process group, and goals are defined. The Diagnosing phase starts organizations on continuous improvement and appraisals are performed. In the Establishing phase, improvements are prioritized and strategies/goals are developed. The Acting phase creates and implements solutions. Leveraging makes subsequent passes through the model more effective.

1. IDEAL
model
Claudia Hatcu
An 4 CTI

2. IDEAL model
•
• a software process improvement (SPI)
program model
• used to guide development of a long-
range, integrated plan for initiating and
managing a SPI program

3. IDEAL model
•
• 5 phases of a SPI initiative
• a continuous loop through the steps
necessary for SPI
• the length of time it takes to complete a
cycle will vary
• many activities can be pursued in a
parallel fashion

4. IDEAL model phases
•
• Initiating
• Diagnosing
• Establishing
• Acting
• Leveraging

5. IDEAL model phases

6. Initiating phase
•
•roles and responsibilities for the
infrastructure are initially defined
• a SPI plan is created to guide the
organization through the completion of the
Initiating, Diagnosing and Establishing
phases
initial improvement infrastructure is established

7. Initiating phase
•
• The initial infrastructure to support and
facilitate SPI will be established
• Two key components
o a management steering group
o a software engineering process group
general goals of the SPI program are defined

8. Diagnosig phase
•
• starts the organization on the path of
continuous software process improvement
• the SPI action plan is initiated
• Appraisal activities are performed
• The results from appraisals will be
reconciled with existing and/or planned
improvement

9. Establishing phase
•
• improvement activities are prioritized
• strategies for pursuing the solutions are
developed
• the SPI action plan will be completed
• measurable goals are developed
• metrics necessary to monitor progress are
defined

10. Acting phase
•
• solutions are created
• evaluate the new or improved processes
• plans to accomplish the roll-out are
developed and executed

11. Leveraging phase
• make the next pass through the IDEAL
model more effective
• using the collected information on
previous steps corrections or adjustments
to the strategy, methods, infrastructure
can be made

12. References
•
• http://www.sei.cmu.edu/reports/96hb001.pdf