Process QA: Learning about Collaboration From the Agile Methods 
Alan S. Koch
President
ASK Process, Inc.

Introduction:

Process Quality Assurance (QA) is often implemented in an adversarial way. The QA auditors (often known as the “Process Police”) roam the halls with their Billy Clubs, ready to beat any hapless violator of the rules into submission. Developers, managers, and even testers learn to fear any encounter with these thugs, and do anything in their powers to avoid them.

The Agile methods are just as concerned about process compliance. (Yes, they are – but that is a different presentation for a different day.) But their approach is quite different from the Product and Process Quality Assurance (PPQA) Process Area (PA) in the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). The Agile methods replace the Process Police with Process Coaches.

In this presentation, we will explore the differences between the CMMI's approach to process compliance and that employed by Scrum and eXtreme Programming (XP), the two most widely recognized Agile methods. And we will discuss how those differences translate into the organization's commitment to quality.

Learning Objectives:

  • Appreciate the value of Agile process coaching
  • Understand the negative impacts of CMMI-style process auditing
  • Define how to gain the benefits of Agile coaching, even in a non-Agile environment

Outline:

  • CMMI Process and Product Quality Assurance (PPQA)
    • Mechanics
    • Side-effects of this approach
  • Agile Process Coaching
    • The Scrum Master
    • The XP Coach
    • Effects of this approach
  • Making Agile-style coaching work for you
    • Coaching without an Agile method
    • Coaching with the CMMI

Biography:

Alan S. Koch, PMP is a consultant, trainer, speaker and writer on effective Project Management methods. For over seven years, he has been President of ASK Process, Inc., a training and consulting company that helps companies to improve the return on their software investment by focusing on the quality of both their software products and the processes they use to development them.

Mr. Koch's 30+ years in software development include:

  • 14 years designing, developing and maintaining software
  • 5 years in Quality Assurance (including establishing & managing a QA department)
  • 10+ years in Software Process Improvement
  • and 10+ years in Management

Mr. Koch holds the ITIL Foundations Certification and has trained many other individuals who have successfully achieved their ITIL Foundations Certifications.