Here's a practical, step-by-step approach for improving your organization's software development process, using the Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model (CMM). The book gives software project managers and administrators a real-world understanding of software process improvement with CMM and how it can be implemented in each stage of the software development lifecycle. The book emphasizes software process definition, the effective use of software metrics, and common sense software project management along with CMM specifics. This integrated approach will help professionals achieve continuous software process improvement with CMM as the working guideline. The book explains common misconceptions associated with Software Process Improvement and CMM, and uses many real-world examples taken from the author's experience in helping business and government organizations define and improve the software development and management process. It includes a detailed case study, over 50 illustrations and tables, and a reference table of key software metrics, which help you: >Evaluate measurements in relation to the functioning of your organization >Direct the software development to achieve higher levels of CMM in a timely manner >Link measurement techniques to specific KPAs in a practical manner >Improve software process definition and improvement techniques with CMM as the guideline