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Frequently Asked Questions About SPIN
What's SPIN
A Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN) is an organization of software professionals in a geographical area who are interested in software process improvement.
Each regional SPIN is run differently, based on the vision of the founders and the needs of the community.
What are the benefits of participating in a SPIN?
The two major benefits are networking
- Opportunities
Because software process improvement is a rapidly growing field, the opportunity to interact with other professionals with the same interest is important. These networking opportunities may take place on a regular basis at SPIN meetings.
They may occur at the yearly SEPG Conference, at which members of regional SPINs and other software professionals gather to meet and discuss software process improvement topics.- Leverage
The leverage that SPINs provide is also important.
For example, when Texas Instruments in Dallas approached local universities about offering a Masters in Software Engineering (MSE) program, the universities resisted. When the Dallas/Fort Worth SPIN approached those same universities, they got a much more positive response. Several universities in the Dallas area now offer an MSE program.
Involvement in a SPIN has also been of financial benefit to some participants at performance evaluation time.How did SPINs get started?
Some professionals working on process improvement in the Washington DC area decided that they needed a practical forum for the interchange of ideas, information, and mutual support.
Realizing that the SEI could not support all of the active software process improvement efforts, they decided to create a way in which Software Engineering Process Groups (SEPGs) and others working in the software field could meet to provide mutual support and interaction.What types of people typically participate in a SPIN?
SPIN members come from all sectors: industry, government, and academia.
They may already participate in other professional organizations.
Most SPINs are open to all who wish to attend their meetings.How are the SPIN groups connected to the SEI?
Each SPIN is completely independent. The SEI exerts no control over any of the organizations.
The SEI does, however, provide support in many ways.
The most significant manner of the SEI's support is :
- Through the enabling and encouraging of communication between SPIN points of contact and other regional SPIN groups.
- By creating, maintaining, and distributing the SPIN directory both in hard copy format and on the SEI's web site, the SEI is able to connect many software professionals with emerging or existing SPINs.
- The SEI also distributes this SPIN start-up information to anyone who is interested in forming a SPIN in their area.
What lessons have other SPINs learned?
DC SPIN lessons learned:
- Be open and honest in front of customers/competitors
- Mix of both speaker and workshop formats works best
- Industry interests are related to organizational size
- SEI alumni are a valuable link
- SEI participation is invaluable
- Interfacing with other groups (e.g., SSQ) is beneficial
- Small and stable SPIN leadership kernel is important
- Publication and administration tasks are significant
Southern California SPIN lessons learned:
- University of provides neutral turf and facilitates discussion
- Daytime meetings are successful in Southern California
- Networking is a big benefit for attendees
- Allow plenty of time for networking
- Running SPIN takes a lot of work
Dallas/Ft. Worth SPIN lessons learned:
- Active, organized, dedicated leaders are key
- Understand your audience and program with their needs in mind
- portunity to network and programs draw people
- Learn from other SPINs
- Associations with large organizations draw "name" speakers
- Independent consultants can help
Boston SPIN lessons learned:
- Be well organized before first meeting
- Assign responsibilities at all committee meetings
- Define a mechanism for canceling a scheduled meeting
- Arrange programs in advance for advertising deadlines
- Prepare outlines for panel presentations
- Use committed and dedicated volunteers
- Find sponsor(s) for facilities, services and working capital
- Establish non-profit status