| Today, technology has become too much a part of overall
corporate success for its effectiveness to be left to
chance. The stakes are too high. Fortunately, the idea of
'quality management' is being reinvigorated. In the last
decade process programs have become more and more prevalent.
And, out of all the available options, three have moved to
the top of the chain. These three are:
The 9001:2000 Quality Management Standard from the
International Standards Organization;
The Capability Maturity Model Integration from the Software
Engineering Institute; and
Six Sigma, a methodology for improvement shaped by companies
such as Motorola, Honeywell, and General Electric.
These recognized and proven quality programs are rising in
popularity as more technology managers are looking for ways
to help remove degrees of risk and uncertainty from their
business equations, and to introduce methods of
predictability that better ensure success.
Process Improvement Essentials combines the foundation
needed to understand process improvement theory with the
best practices to help individuals implement process
improvement initiatives in their organization. The three
leading programs: ISO 9001:2000, CMMI, and Six Sigma--amidst
the buzz and hype--tend to get lumped together under a
common label. This book delivers a combined guide to all
three programs, compares their applicability, and then sets
the foundation for further exploration. It's a
one-stop-shop designed to give you a working orientation to
what the field is all about.
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Biting the hand that feeds IT 
Published by: O'REILLY & ASSOCIATES