6 Sigma for software product development and process improvement

May 20, 2004

Location: Electrical Engineering/Computer Science Bldg., Room EE/CS 3-180

Meeting Abstract:

Software Engineering is the collection of best practices in software development, from the past 50+ years and is still evolving today.  On-going efforts, both in industry and academia, continue to strive toward the overall goals of improving the quality of software, while minimizing cost and schedule.  These goals are challenged by the increasing complexity and variability of where and how software is used in today's world.

In 1986, Six Sigma® was invented by Motorola to standardize the way defects are counted, and provides continuous process improvement based on rigorous statistical analysis.  It originated with manufacturing processes, and has evolved to apply to general business processes.

Since both have a goal of process improvement, some questions are: Do we need both?   Are they in conflict?  Is one better than the other, and if so, where?  If they are compatible, how do they fit together?

This talk will give a general overview of six sigma, and will focus on the comparison.
 
® Six Sigma is a registered trademark and service mark of Motorola, Inc.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Elizabeth Sisley currently works at a global company that is actively using six sigma, but not in a position that allows her to mention the company name in the same discussion as the term "six sigma."  To be objective and impartial, the major university where she teaches in the MS in Software Engineering program will also not be named.

Assuming that the Twin-SPIN would prefer to hear about the technical ideas in each area and how they relate, she will be discussing the academic ideas and her opinions only, without any company or university details.

In addition to 20+ years of industry experience, Elizabeth received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota in 1999.