Software Maintenance Success Recipes

Dispelling much of the folklore surrounding software maintenance, Software Maintenance Success Recipes identifies actionable formulas for success based on in-depth analysis of more than 200 real-world maintenance projects. It details the set of factors that are usually present when effective software maintenance teams do their work and instructs on the methods required to achieve success.
Donald J. Reifer—an award winner for his contributions to the field of software engineering and whose experience includes managing the DoD Software Initiatives Office—provides step-by-step guidance on how to structure the job to complete the work related to the task. Covering all phases of maintenance up to software retirement, he identifies the resources required to ready support system operation during transition and turnover, details best practices for establishing a maintenance infrastructure, and spells out a wealth of best practices aimed at maintaining and sustaining the product once it is deployed.
This book tells you how to manage today’s ever-evolving maintenance environment so you can build the foundation for sound maintenance work. It explains how to create a robust management infrastructure, ensure proper resources are available, establish a user support structure, and conduct a meaningful measurement program. Filled with real-world examples and a detailed case study that is threaded across chapters, it provides you with the understanding and tools to plan for a major upgrade and determine the best time to retire your current software systems.

Donald J. Reifer is one of the leading figures in the field of systems/software engineering and management with over 40 years of progressive experience. He has built businesses, steered troubled projects, and served in executive positions in industry and government. He specializes in the area of metrics and measurement. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Reifer managed the DoD Software Initiatives Office under an Intergovernmental Personnel Act assignment with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). As part of this Senior Executive Service (SES) assignment, he also served as the Director of the DoD Software Reuse Initiative and Chief of the Ada Joint Program Office and worked in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (ASD/C3I).
Previously, while with TRW, Mr. Reifer served as Deputy Program Manager for their Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) efforts. While with the Aerospace Corporation, Mr. Reifer managed all of the software efforts related to the Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle). Mr. Reifer started his software career at Hughes Aircraft Company as a software engineer on the Phoenix missile project.
Currently, as President of RCI, Mr. Reifer supports executives in many Fortune 500 firms who are developing investment strategies aimed at improving their systems and software engineering capabilities and capacity. Mr. Reifer also serves as the Principal Investigator on our information warfare and software protection SBIR efforts. In addition, he serves as a Visiting Associate at the Center for Systems and Software Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC). He leads several of the Center's COCOMO-II efforts and mentors graduate students and Affiliates in the proper use of this popular cost model.
Mr. Reifer was awarded the Secretary of Defense's Medal for Outstanding Public Service in 1995 for the innovations he brought to the DoD during his assignment. Some of his many other honors include the include the AIAA Software Engineering Award, Hughes Aircraft Company Fellowship, the Frieman Award for advancing the field of parametrics (cost estimation), the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and membership in Who's Who in the West. In 2002, Mr. Reifer was presented the AIAA Software Engineering award for accomplishments in the field. Reifer is a senior member of the ACM and IEEE and a member of INCOSE and ISPA.

Maintenance Is Everybody’s Primary BusinessWhy Read This Book?Goals and ScopeMaintenance Viewpoints Product—User Needs and Adaptation Requirements Process—Evolution and Change Management People—Workforce Needs Project—Deadlines and ManagementFocus on Work Activities PerformedQuestions to Be AnsweredLessons LearnedCase StudyKey Point SummaryReferencesWeb Pointers
Software Maintenance OverviewWhat Is Maintenance and Why Is It Important?Who Does Is, Why, Where, When, and How? As Part of Development During Transition After TurnoverOperational Concepts and ConstraintsCharacteristics of World-Class OrganizationsIssues and AnswersLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers
The Maintenance Pie—What Work Needs to Be DoneWork Breakdown Structure Software Operations, Maintenance, and Support Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)Activity DistributionsResource NeedsSuccess FormulasLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers
Ten Success Recipes for Surviving the Maintenance BattlesBalance between Agility and DisciplineEmphasis on Managing the WorkEstablish a Proper InfrastructureAddress Operational RestrictionsTen Success RecipesLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers

Adequate Transition and Turnover PlanningPrerequisites for SuccessWhat You Need to Execute an EffectiveMaintenance Program During Development Product Process People Project After Transition and TurnoverWhat Happens When a System Does Not TransitionWhen to Replace rather than RepairLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers
Establishing a Solid Management InfrastructureBest PracticesRole of Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)The Role of RequirementsBudgeting and EstimatingRelease ManagementFocus on Reuse, Rejuvenation, and ResuscitationLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers
Best-in-Class FacilitiesFacilities OverviewIntegration LaboratoriesMaintenance FacilitiesMethods and ToolsWhere Investments Are NeededLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers
Responsive User Support StructureMaintenance ReleasesEmergency FixesHelp DeskWeb FacilitiesLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers
A Focus on Regression TestingRegression Tests and Test BaselinesRevalidation and QualificationField Testing and ReleasesField Support and RepairsLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb PointersContent-Based Annual ReleasesAdaptive, Corrective, and Perfective ChangesWhat Changes to Include, When, and WhyFocus on QualityDistribution ControlsLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers
Proper Resourcing (Staff and Equipment)Estimating/Budgeting Best PracticesNecessary Skills, Knowledge, and AbilitiesFacility Optimization and UtilizationFocusing on Workload Load BalancingLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers
Effective Measurement Data UtilizationWhat Data, When, and WhyQuality Insights Using Defect DataProductivity Insights Using Cost DataManagement Insights Using Process FeedbackLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb Pointers
Being Ready for the Next Major UpgradeReal Option ConceptsFeasibility StudiesCost-Benefit Trade-OffsCost-Effectiveness AnalysisOther TechniquesLessons LearnedCase StudyKey Point SummaryReferencesWeb PointersKnowing When to Retire the SystemDeath SpiralsRetirement PlansDeployment OptionsCutoverLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb PointersFuture Shock—An Action PlanLooking to the FutureDevelopment TechnologiesTechnology Readiness LevelLean Manufacturing (Kanban)Users as MaintainersCloud Computing and Its ImpactLessons LearnedCase StudyReferencesWeb PointersWinning the Battles for Prestige, Resources, and RecognitionPlaying to WinDeveloping Your Support BaseWinning the Battle of the BudgetKeeping Users InvolvedDelivering Exceptional Products and ServicesYou Can Be SuccessfulKey Point SummaryFinal RemarksReferencesAppendix A: AcronymsAppendix B: GlossaryAppendix C: Recommended Readings, References, and Resources