Software Process Improvement Network SPIN

1
Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN)

• Start-Up Information

2
What is a SPIN?

• An organization of software professionals
• Interested in software process improvement.
• Each regional SPIN is different
• Vision of the founders
• Needs of the community.

3
How did SPINs get started?

• Recognition in 1988 of a need for a practical
  forum for the exchange of
• Ideas
• Information
• Mutual support.
• SEI could not actively support all ongoing
  process improvement efforts
• Created a mechanism to provide mutual support and
  interaction

4
What are the benefits of participating in a SPIN?

• Networking
• Process improvement rapidly growing
• Not a mature field
• Leverage
• SPINs represent multiple organizations
• The leadership group of process improvement
• The knowledge of all is greater than the
  knowledge of one

5
What types of people typically participate in a
SPIN?

• Professionals from
• Industry
• Government
• Academia (including students)

6
How are SPIN groups affiliated with the SEI?

• Each SPIN is completely independent
• The SEI exerts no control
• The SEI does provide support
• Enables communication among the SPINs
• Maintenance of the online SPIN Directory
• Connect many professionals with emerging or
  active SPINs
• Distributes SPIN start-up information to anyone
  who is interested in starting or joining a SPIN

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How can I start a SPIN in my area?

• Check the SPIN directory
• http//www.sei.cmu.edu/collaborating/spins/
• If needed, contact the SEI SPIN coordinator,
  Shane McGraw
• 1 412-268-2358
• spin_at_sei.cmu.edu
• Add your information to the SPIN directory as a
  SPIN point of contact for your area.
• Schedule your first planning committee meeting

8
What does the planning committee need to decide?

• Mission statement
• Draft a charter and by-laws, or would you like to
  remain more informal?
• Who will run the SPIN volunteers or elected
  officers?

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How are you going to fund the meetings?

• Corporate, academic or government sponsor?
• Donates meeting space, reproduction services,
  clerical assistance, postage, etc.
• Collect dues at each meeting
• Charge a yearly fee
• Charge nothing at all.

10
Do you plan to serve refreshments at your SPIN
meetings?

• Admission fee to cover the cost of refreshments
• Corporate sponsors cover refreshments.
• Luncheon or dinner meetings in a private room at
  a restaurant and attendees order from the menu.

11
Where should we hold our meetings?

• Many corporations are willing to let SPINs use
  their facilities for meetings,
• Universities are also a good source for meeting
  space.

12
Can we leverage off of other local organizations?

• Some SPINs have joint meetings with local
  professional organizations (e.g. ACM).
• Lower the cost of the meetings
• Provides a whole new audience
• Check to see if there are any similar
  organizations in your area.

13
How often and when should we meet?

• Once a month
• Bimonthly
• Quarterly basis
• Blackout months

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Should we provide networking opportunities?

• At each meeting, allow a period of time for
  networking either before or after the
  presentation
• Serve refreshments during the networking session
• What will work best for your membersy
• Adapt and compromise.

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How can we get word out about our SPIN meetings?

• Email list for meeting announcements
• Contact editors of local trade newsletters to see
  if they would mention your meetings in a calendar
  of events
• Publish a regular newsletter
• Electronic bboard announcements and the web.
• Many SPINs send their meeting notices (via email)
  to the SEI SPIN coordinator, who then forwards
  the message to her email list.

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How can I learn about other SPIN meetings?

• You should request that the SEI SPIN coordinator
  add you to his/her email alias
• Receive information about
• SPIN meetings and meeting minutes
• other software process improvement-related
  information relating to courses, conferences and
  publications.

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How do I get speakers for my SPIN meetings?

• Contact the SEI SPIN Coordinator, who will check
  with SEI presenters to see if they plan to travel
  to your area
• Independent consultants
• SEI Partner web site for a list of potential
  presenters
• http//www.sei.cmu.edu/partners/.
• Your SPIN membership
• You want real-world lessons learned sessions.

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What lessons have the other SPINs learned?

• Be open and honest in front of customers/competito
  rs
• Mix of both speaker and workshop formats works
  best
• SEI alumni are a valuable source
• SEI participation is invaluable
• Interfacing with other groups (e.g., SSQ) is
  beneficial
• Small and stable SPIN leadership kernel is
  important

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Lessons Learned - 2

• Publication and administration tasks are
  significant
• University of provides neutral turf and
  facilitates discussion
• Daytime meetings are successful for some SPINs
  (more people may be able to attend)
• Allow plenty of time for networking, which is a
  benefit
• Active, organized, dedicated leaders are
  keyUnderstand your audience and program with
  their needs in mind

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Lessons Learned - 3

• Learn from other SPINs
• Associations with large organizations draw name
  speakers
• Independent consultants can help
• Be well organized before first meeting
• Assign responsibilities at all committee meetings
• Define a mechanism for canceling a scheduled
  meeting, particularly if you live in a weather
  prone part of the world.

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Lessons Learned - 4

• Prepare outlines for panel presentations
• Use committed and dedicated volunteers
• Find sponsor(s) for facilities, services and
  working capital
• Establish non-profit status