This paper has two main objectives: (1) recognizing the set of most popular models used in worldwide harmonization projects and implemented or requested by Iranian software SMEs. (2) Comparing and integrating these models in Process Activity level to develop a unified quality improvement model.
A combination of literature review and questionnaire methods was used to identify the set of the most popular models. Then, based on harmonization techniques the common or similar areas among these models are recognized and then an initial version of the Unified Quality Improvement Model (UQIM) is developed, named CIP-UQIM. Next, this initial model was presented in a two-day workshop for SPI experts and it was refined and finalized by incorporating their feedbacks.
Investigations showed that the set {CMMI-DEV, ISO 9001, and PMBOK} was the most popular. Thus in CIP-UQIM, for the first time, the last version of these models was unified at the activity level details. Finally, the experience of using CIP-UQIM in an Iranian SME has been reported which demonstrate its applicability and advantages.
Considering the high similarity among the three models and CIP-UQIM level of details, it can be concluded that CIP-UQIM can be beneficial to resolve or reduce SPI issues in MME's, especially in case of software SMEs.