🚀 go-pugleaf

From: DRM@vaxa.switch.com
Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 13:10:38 -0400 (EDT)

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Meeting Announcement
6:30 - 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 6, 1995
Software Engineering Institute

Agenda
6:30 - 7:00		Arrival, registration, networking, refreshments
7:00 - 7:15		Convene in the auditorium for 15 minutes of "madness"
7:15 - 9:00		Presentation by Charles R. Myers, Jr., PhD: 
		"Human Factors in Developing Teams for Process Improvement"

Implementation of a Software Process Improvement (SPI) initiative normally 
requires extensive use of teams.  If these teams are to be successful, two 
separate but related sets of issues must be resolved.  One set is associated 
with the technical task(s) teams have been charged with addressing.  When 
technically competent people are assigned to the teams, these issues, 
though often complex and difficult, can be resolved through application 
of the knowledge and experience of the team members.  

The second set of issues often is not addressed effectively because 
its elements lie outside the experience and knowledge base of the SPI 
participants.  These issues are concerned with the human characteristics 
that all people automatically and unconsciously bring to any situation 
where group work is required.  Because they lie below the level of 
consciousness, they rarely surface for explicit consideration during 
planning or implementation.  When they do surface, lack of knowledge 
and skill in addressing them often leads to an assumption that they 
won't interfere with the work of technically competent people.  
Experience has shown that this is almost always an invalid assumption, 
and that it often leads to inefficiency and floundering, and ultimately 
to frustration and disillusionment with the organization's SPI efforts.

This presentation will provide an overview of human factors that need to 
be considered within the SPI team environment.  It will first provide a 
brief overview of an SPI improvement infrastructure.  It will then proceed 
to discussion of a seven-element model of team development and growth as 
context for addressing human factors. This context will serve as the basis 
for describing practical steps that can be taken during team formation to 
ensure that human issues are addressed and resolved, allowing teams to 
focus quickly and efficiently on their technical tasks. Time will be 
provided for questions and answers at the close of the presentation.

Bio:  Dr. Chuck Myers is a Senior Member of the Technical Staff at the 
Software Engineering Institute (SEI), where he works within the 
Organization Capability Development project.  Chuck received his 
BS degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, 
and his MS and PhD degrees from Indiana University.  He served for 
eight years as a commissioned officer in the U.S.  Army Signal Corps 
and worked for a large aerospace corporation for nine years.  He has 
been at the SEI for the past seven years, where his primary work has 
been with organizations engaged in software process improvement (SPI) 
efforts.  The focus of his work has been on organizational and human 
issues that enable achievement of technical SPI objectives.  Chuck 
teaches both the Managing Technological Change course and the 
Consulting Skills Workshop offered by the SEI.

Come join us!  Please post this notice, distribute it broadly, 
and extend this invitation to your colleagues who may be interested 
in software process improvement.  Anyone interested may attend; 
however, for logistical purposes, please RSVP by June 2 if you 
plan to attend.

RSVP
Don McAndrews
e-mail:	drm@vaxa.switch.com
phone:	(412) 688-2328
fax:	(412) 688-2399
If you can not attend but are interested, please contact me and I will 
forward information on our next SPIN meeting.

NOTE:  We will be collecting $5 per attendee to cover expenses 
(mailing, refreshments, etc.)

Mission:  The Pittsburgh SPIN is a group of professionals who share a 
common interest in the field of software engineering and software process 
improvement.  The SPIN is a forum for free and open exchange of software 
process improvement experiences and ideas.  We promote mutual respect, 
software quality, and achieving higher levels of process maturity.  
Our mission is to help sustain commitment and enhance skills through an 
active program of networking, publications, recognition of excellence, 
and mutual support.

The Pittsburgh Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN).

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Janice M. Marchok                                      (412)268-6815
Member of the Technical Staff               Internet:jmm@sei.cmu.edu