Case Study: Quality Strategy and Roadmap

Challenge: During a re-organization, this company in the healthcare industry, combined separate IT groups triggering the need for common software delivery practices and rules of project engagement. A new Software Quality Solutions organization was established that contained Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC) and Configuration Management (CM). This organization wanted a quality strategy and roadmap aligned with the vision of ‘one way’ and the Capability Maturity Model (CMMI) Level 3.

Solution: To achieve a holistic approach to software quality, QA, QC, and CM processes were defined in context of an integrated process framework that also included project management, software engineering, and implementation processes. This framework established the future state of quality software delivery at the company. Using interviews, gap analyses, and workshops, we established priorities for defining and rolling out common processes within the framework. Priorities were based upon the major gaps in current capabilities, the leadership team’s areas of concern; and where improved capabilities would provide immediate value to IT projects.

A strategy was also developed for the QA, QC, and CM groups within the Software Quality Solutions organization. The strategy recommended the group’s common processes, organization structure, tools, skills sets, and roadmap sequence for implementing the strategy. The QA strategy recommended following the CMMI model for defining, training, measuring and institutionalizing consistent repeatable processes. The strategy for QC (testing) addressed both centralized and decentralized testing, processes and tools standards. The CM strategy addressed version management, release management, and environments management processes and tools. The recommended staffing model, budget and return on investment were validated against industry benchmarks.

Result: The strategy created a shared common vision of quality software delivery at the company. It served as a vehicle for communicating the Software Quality Solutions organization’s vision of the future state of Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and Configuration Management processes relative to other software delivery processes. The strategy received approval and budget for implementation.