Using an Expert Panel to Validate the Malaysian SMEs-Software Process Improvement Model (MSME-SPI)

TL;DR

This paper introduces and validates the MSME-SPI model, a tool designed to help Malaysian SMEs improve their software development processes, validated through expert feedback on its usefulness, verifiability, and structure.

Contribution

The paper develops and validates a new software process improvement model specifically for Malaysian SMEs, incorporating expert validation to ensure its effectiveness.

Findings

Model is effective with minor modifications

Expert panel confirms usefulness and structure

Validation enhances practitioner understanding

Abstract

This paper presents the components of a newly developed Malaysian SMEs - Software Process Improvement model (MSME-SPI) that can assess SMEs soft-ware development industry in managing and improving their software processes capability. The MSME-SPI is developed in response to practitioner needs that were highlighted in an empirical study with the Malaysian SME software development industry. After the model development, there is a need for independent feedback to show that the model meets its objectives. Consequently, the validation phase is performed by involving a group of software process improvement experts in examining the MSME-SPI model components. Besides, the effectiveness of the MSME-SPI model is validated using an expert panel. Three criteria were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the model namely: usefulness, verifiability, and structure. The results show the model effective to be used by SMEs with minor modifications. The validation phase contributes towards a better understanding and use of the MSME-SPI model by the practitioners in the field.