ABSTRACT
Computer Assisted Software Engineering, commonly used in the phrase “CASE tools,” referring to software products that automate one or more portions of the system development process
CBT:
Computer-based training
CFO:
Chief Financial Officer
CIO:
Chief Information Officer
CMM:
Capability Maturity Model; the five-level definition of software process maturity
COPQ:
Cost of poor quality, the cost of defects, including inspection, rework, and lost sales
COTS:
Commercial off-the-shelf software; another term for packaged software
CRUD:
A matrix that indicates which processes can Create, Read, Update, and Delete a record on a database
CSF:
Critical success factor; the things that must go right if an organization is to meet its objectives
DBA:
Database administrator
DMAIC:
The five phases of Six Sigma: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control
DOE:
Design of experiments; a method of testing that varies inputs to determine the corresponding effects on outputs
DPMO:
Defects per million opportunities; a measure of the overall quality of a process; calculated as number of defects observed divided by the number of opportunities to create a defect, with the result multiplied by one million
DPU:
Defects per unit; a measure of quality; calculated as the number of defects observed divided by the number of units produced
EIS:
Executive information system; typically a system that presents high-level information and allows successive drilldown to the underlying details
ERD:
Entity relationship diagram; a tool used to design databases
ERP:
Enterprise resource planning; a large integrated software package designed for manufacturing companies
FAQ:
Frequently Asked Questions; normally a document that provides answers to questions
Five Ps:
Prior planning prevents poor performance
Five Ws:
Who, what, where, when, why
FMEA:
Failure modes and effects analysis; one of the most commonly used Six Sigma tools
GIGO:
Garbage in, garbage out
GRACE:
Items to be reviewed at the start of team meetings: Goal, Roles, Agenda, Code of Conduct, Expectations
JAD:
Joint application development; commonly used in the phrase “JAD sessions,” where customers and IT work together to develop the specifications for a system
JRP:
Joint requirements planning; the process whereby customers and IT develop the high-level requirements for a system
KPA:
Key Process Area, a component of a CMM level
KPIV:
Key process input variable; an input that is critical to the output of the process
KPOV:
Key process output variable; an output that is critical to the customer
LCL:
Lower control limit; the bottom of the normal processing range as statistically generated
LSL:
Lower specification limit; the bottom of the acceptable range specified by the customer
NINO:
Nothing in, nothing out
QA:
Quality assurance; the process of preventing defects
QC:
Quality control; the process of monitoring and correcting defects
RAD:
Rapid application development; a system development technique characterized by the use of CASE tools, JRP, and JAD
RAIL:
Rolling action item log; a list of open items, normally with responsibilities and target completion dates
RAVE:
Characteristics of measurements: Relevant, Adequate to detect process changes, Valid and consistent from time to time, Easy
RCS:
Rumor control session; an informal communication method designed to help employees cope with impending change
RFI:
Request for information; a request to potential suppliers for general information about the services or software they provide
RFP:
Request for Proposal; a formal request that a potential supplier present a proposal for services or software tailored to the requesting company
RFS:
Request for Services; a form typically used to request services from IT
ROI:
Return on Investment
RPN:
Risk priority number; a column on the FMEA, representing the degree of risk that a potential failure mode poses
SARAH:
The stages of coping with major change: Shock, Anger, Resistance, Acceptance, Hope
SDLC:
System development life cycle
SEI:
Software Engineering Institute, the division of Carnegie Mellon University that developed the Capability Maturity Model
SIPOC:
A chart that provides a high-level understanding of a process. The components are: Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer
SLA:
Service level agreement; a contract quantifying the work to be provided by IT or an outsourcer
SMART:
Characteristics of a problem statement or requirements: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timebound
SOP:
Standard operating procedure
SOW:
Statement of work; normally the formal contract that defines the work to be provided by an outsource supplier
Ts and Cs:
Terms and conditions of a contract
Three Cs:
Complete, Clear, and Customer-focused; applies to statements of work and service level agreements
TMAP:
Thought process map; a Six Sigma tool used to document the team’s decisions, the reasons for those decisions, and the tools that were used in making them
UCL:
Upper control limit; the top of the normal processing range as statistically generated
USL:
Upper specification limit; the top of the acceptable range specified by the customer
WIT:
Whatever it takes
