ISO/IEC TR 29110-3-4:2015

TECHNICAL ISO/IEC TR
REPORT 29110-3-4
First edition
2015-10-15
Systems and software engineering —
Lifecycle profiles for Very Small
Entities (VSEs) —
Part 3-4:
Autonomy-based improvement method
Ingénierie des systèmes et du logiciel — Profils de cycle de vie pour
très petits organismes (TPO) —
Partie 3-4: Guide pour la méthode d’amélioration fondée sur
l’autonomie
Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2015
© ISO/IEC 2015, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO/IEC 2015 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
1.1 Fields of application . 1
1.2 Target audience . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Conventions and abbreviated terms . 2
4.1 Naming, diagramming, and definition conventions . 2
4.2 Abbreviated terms . 2
5 Process improvement context for VSEs. 2
5.1 Considerations of related standards for VSEs . 2
5.2 Rationale of the process improvement for VSEs . 2
6 Process improvement approach for VSEs . 3
7 Characteristics for autonomy-based approach . 4
7.1 General . 4
7.2 Autonomy . 4
7.3 Conciseness and easiness to understand . 4
7.4 Low cost, quick cycle and controllable . 4
7.5 Confidence of effectiveness and necessity . 4
7.6 Communication with stakeholders and communities . 4
8 Framework of process improvement . 5
8.1 Initiation of improvement . 5
8.2 Activities of improvement . 5
8.2.1 Activity 1: Awareness of process problems . 5
8.2.2 Activity 2: Analysis of problems and their relationships . 5
8.2.3 Activity 3: Analysis of the root cause of problems . 5
8.2.4 Activity 4: Identification of a process or processes relating to the root cause . 5
8.2.5 Activity 5: Clarification of the fundamental purpose, outcomes, and
practices of the process . . 5
8.2.6 Activity 6: Study on best practices on the process . 6
8.2.7 Activity 7: Develop improvements to eliminate or mitigate problems . 6
8.2.8 Activity 8: Evaluate the improvement plan for feasibility and impact . 6
8.3 Continuous improvement cycle . 6
8.4 Improved communication and agreement. 6
8.5 Competency for improvement . 7
8.6 Enhancement tools for improvement. 7
8.7 Preparation or selection of a VSE profile . 7
9 Improvement means growth and innovation . 7
Annex A (informative) Example: SPINA CH method for the basic profile . 8
Annex B (informative) Adapting various profiles with the SPINA CH method .20
Bibliography .22
© ISO/IEC 2015 – All rights reserved iii

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical
activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the
work. In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee,
ISO/IEC JTC 1.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for
the different types of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject
of patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the
Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, Subcommittee
SC 7, Software and systems engineering.
The full list of parts of ISO/IEC 29110 is available here.
iv © ISO/IEC 2015 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Very Small Entities (VSEs) around the world are creating valuable products and services. For the
purpose of this part of ISO/IEC 29110, a Very Small Entity (VSE) is an enterprise, an organization, a
department or a project having up to 25 people. Since many VSEs develop and/or maintain system
and software components used in systems, either as independent products or incorporated in larger
systems, recognition of VSEs as suppliers of high quality products is required.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) SME and
Entrepreneurship Outlook report (2005), “Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) constitute the
dominant form of business organization in all countries world-wide, accounting for over 95 % and
up to 99 % of the business population depending on country”. The challenge facing governments
and economies is to provide a business environment that supports the competitiveness of this large
heterogeneous business population and that promotes a vibrant entrepreneurial culture.
From studies and surveys conducted, it is clear that the majority of International Standards do not
address the needs of VSEs. Implementation of and conformance with these standards is difficult, if not
impossible. Consequently VSEs, have no, or very limited, ways to be recognized as entities that produce
quality systems/system elements including software in their domain. Therefore, VSEs are excluded
from some economic activities.
It has been found that VSEs find it difficult to relate International Standards to their business needs
and to justify the effort required to apply standards to their business practices. Most VSEs can neither
afford the resources, in terms of number of employees, expertise, budget and time, nor do they see a
net benefit in establishing over-complex systems or software lifecycle processes. To address some of
these difficulties, a set of guides has been developed based on a set of VSE characteristics. The guides
are based on subsets of appropriate standards processes, activities, tasks, and outcomes, referred to as
Profiles. The purpose of a profile is to define a subset of International Standards relevant to the VSEs’
context; for example, processes, activities, tasks, and outcomes of ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 for software;
and processes, activities, tasks, and outcomes of ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 for systems; and information
products (documentation) of ISO/IEC/IEEE 15289 for software and systems.
VSEs can achieve recognition through implementing a profile and by being audited against
ISO/IEC 29110 specifications.
The ISO/IEC 29110 series of International Standard and Technical Reports can be applied at any phase
of system or software development within a lifecycle. ISO/IEC 29110 (all parts) is intended to be used
by VSEs that do not have experience or expertise in adapting/tailoring ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 or ISO/IEC/
IEEE 15288 standards to the needs of a specific project. VSEs that have expertise in adapting/tailoring
ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 or ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 are encouraged to use those standards instead of
ISO/IEC 29110.
ISO/IEC 29110 is intended to be used with any lifecycle such as: waterfall, iterative, incremental,
evolutionary or agile.
The ISO/IEC 29110 series, targeted by audience, has been developed to improve system or software
and/or service quality, and process performance (see Table 1).
© ISO/IEC 2015 – All rights reserved v

Table 1 — ISO/IEC 29110 target audience
ISO/IEC 29110 Title Target audience
Part 1 Overview VSEs and their customers, assessors,
standards producers, tool vendors and
methodology vendors.
Part 2 Framework Profile producers, tool vendors and
methodology vendors.
Not intended for VSEs.
Part 3 Assessment guidance VSEs and their customers, assessors,
accreditation bodies.
Part 4 Profile specifications VSEs, customers, standards producers, tool
vendors and methodology vendors.
Part 5 Management and engineering VSEs and their customers.
guide
If a new profile is nee
...