Process Engineering

Definition

Process Engineering (a.k.a., Method Engineering)

the activity consisting of the cohesive collection of all tasks directly involved in the improvement of processes by the engineering of appropriate endeavor-specific and/or producer-specific methods (i.e., process models) via the engineering and use of organizational process component frameworks (i.e., process metamodels), process component class libraries, reusable methods, and associated usage guidelines

Classification

As illustrated in the preceding figure, process engineering is part of the following inheritance hierarchy:

• Type: Abstract
• Superclass: Activities
• Subclasses:
  • Process Framework Engineering:
    • Creating a new process framework by selecting and combining process components from both internal and external (e.g., books, tools) sources.
    • Modifying an existing process framework (e.g., the OPF) for organizational usage.
    • Reusing an industry standard process framework (e.g., the OPEN Process Framework).
  • Method Engineering:
    • Instantiating reusable concrete process component classes in the the organizational process framework repository to construct an endeavor-specific or producer-specific process.
    • Tailoring reusable methods in the organizational process framework repository to construct an endeavor-specific or producer-specific process.

Responsibilities

The typical responsibilities of process engineering are to ensure that:

• An appropriate, well-documented, organizational-standard process framework incorporating industry best practices is obtained or produced and maintained.
• This framework is used to produce and maintain appropriate, well-documented, endeavor-specific or producer-specific methods (i.e., process models).
• The resulting methods are mandated by management and properly communicated to their stakeholders.
• Either the processes conform to the mandated methods, a waiver or deviation is granted, or that the method is updated to conform to the actual process being performed.

Preconditions

Process engineering typically may begin when the following preconditions hold:

• The endeavor is started.
• The organizational or endeavor process team is adequately:
  • Staffed.
  • Trained or experienced in process engineering.

Completion Criteria

Process engineering is typically complete when the following postconditions hold:

• An endeavor-specific or producer-specific method has been constructed, documented, tailored, and mandated.
• The organizational repository containing the organizational process framework has been constructed, documented, iterated, and mandated.

Tasks

As illustrated in the preceding figure of the work flow involving process engineering tasks, the process engineering activity typically involves the following producers performing the following process engineering tasks in an iterative, incremental, parallel, and timeboxed manner:

• Process Team, which performs:
  • Process Framework Engineering:
    • Process Framework Needs Assessment
    • Process Framework Construction
    • Process Framework Documentation
    • Process Framework Reuse
    • Process Framework Maintenance
  • Method Engineering:
    • Method Consulting
    • Method Needs Assessment
    • Method Construction,
      during which the process team tailors and integrates the appropriate method components.
    • Method Reuse,
      during which the process team selects and reuses the appropriate reusable method.
    • Method Documentation,
      during which the process team documents the approved method and communicates it to its stakeholders (e.g., appropriate members of the development, customer, and subcontractor organizations).
    • Method Monitoring,
      during which the process team monitors compliance of the process to the method and the success of the process.
    • Method Maintenance,
      during which the process team maintains the method based on the results of method monitoring.
• Management Teams, which performs:
  • Process Framework Mandating,
    during which the organizational management team mandates the use of the standard process framework by its endeavors.
  • Method Mandating,
    during which the endeavor management team mandates the use of the endeavor-specific method by the endeavor’s teams.
• Process Inspection Team,
  
  • Method Evaluation,
    during which the process inspection team evaluates the adequacy, appropriateness, and effectiveness of the method.

Environments

Process engineering is typically performed using the following environment(s) and associated tools:

• Development Environment:
  • Process engineering tool, which enables the process engineer to identify, select, tailor, and integrate method components to create appropriate methods
  • Browser (for evaluating external process frameworks and process component classes)

Work Products

Process engineering typically results in the production of the process work product set:

• Conventions:
  • Checklists
  • Examples
  • Guidelines
  • Procedures
  • Standards
  • Templates
  • Tool Manuals
• Method
• Method Description Document
• Process
• Process Component
• Process Component Class
• Process Framework
• Process Framework Description Document
• Process Needs Assessment
• Process Framework Needs Assessment

Phases

Process engineering tasks are typically performed during the following phases:

• Business Strategy: Ongoing (Process Framework)
• Business Optimization: Ongoing (Process Framework)
• Initiation: Ongoing (Method)
• Construction: Ongoing (Method)
• Initial Production: Ongoing (Method)
• Full-Scale Production: Ongoing (Method)
• Delivery: Ongoing (Method)
• Usage: Ongoing (Method)
• Retirement: Ongoing (Method)

Guidelines

• This activity is documented using the typical configuration for large organizations or endeavors. It is intended to be configured (i.e., instantiated, extended, and tailored) to meet the needs of specific organizations or endeavors.
• The preconditions of this activity should be the union of the preconditions of its constituent tasks.
• The completion criteria for this activity should be the union of the postconditions of its constituent tasks.