“Patience is a Virtue”- A Day in the Life of an SEPG Lead
Tammye Thornton
SEPG Lead-Strike Systems Division
Naval Surface Warfare Center/Dahlgren Division

Introduction:

My division has been involved in CMM related process improvement since 1992. We achieved CMM-SW, Level 3 in 1997. Over the past several years we have been attempting to repeat our past success utilizing CMMI-Dev, but a number of obstacles have gotten in our way. This presentation will address some of those struggles to achieve past glory.

Participants will learn:

Participants will become aware of challenges facing process groups, process leads in particular; Lessons Learned from an experience lead; Hints to overcoming obstacles; Learning from others in attendance.

Outline:

This presentation would follow an actual work day and address the typical challenges that an SEPG lead faces such as shrinking budgets; conflicting priorities; changes in sponsorship; multiple, simultaneous improvement initiatives; lack of resources; unreasonable champions; improvement initiative-weary middle managers; overworked practitioners, etc..

This presentation would present specific scenarios mentioned above, lessons learned, and helpful hints to overcome the challenges.

Biography:

Tammye presents today will the following experience:

• Ten years experience in SW Testing, Quality Assurance, and Configuration Management.
• SEPG member/lead for over ten years;
• Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt for 4 years.
• Worked on a number of process improvement initiatives in my division, department, and center-wide.