Sometimes software development projects need more discipline, sometimes a little less. But whatever the degree of discipline, projects can still benefit by adhering to basic principles of agile development, even when teams are geographically dispersed. This month's cover story presents three different scenarios -- and three authors' perspectives -- on the application of RUP-based agile methods where conditions might otherwise lead to project failure. We also take a look at the value of use cases in the testing environment, and a Ready-for-Rational partner offers a solution for testing SAP packaged applications.
I have a special announcement: If you register for this June's Rational Software Development Conference by February 28th, you'll get an early-bird discount on the Conference price. Click here to find out about rates and Conference packages.
This is an ideal month to "februate," that is, to renew and purify. So, while we're recharging our editorial batteries, we're offering up the "Best of the Edge" -- a compendium of our most significant articles from 2007. Scan through the categories and articles, and I bet you'll find a few pieces you missed from the previous year's issues. Email this list to your colleagues. We'll have an issue full of brand new content in March.
Until then, happy iterations,
Mike Perrow
Editor-in-Chief
Exploiting use cases to improve test quality, by Debra Sheldon and Sylvia Lenters
Read how testing and quality assurance organizations can improve test quality by employing use case techniques.
Test automation for SAP packaged applications, by Danis Yadegar and Sarat Addanki
Read how Arsin, an IBM "Ready-for-Rational" partner, provides a testing solution for SAP packaged applications that leverages IBM Rational Functional Tester in combination with Arsin's own products.
Cover story:Agile RUP: Experiences from the trenches, by Mark Lines, Joshua Barnes, Julian Holmes, and Scott W. Ambler
This compilation of three brief articles by IBM Rational thought leaders describes how the IBM Rational Unified Process, or RUP, is not only "agile" in its own right, but also encompasses much of the guidance teams need to scale agile techniques successfully.
NEW: The IBM Rational Academic Initiative
The IBM Rational Academic Initiative focuses on bringing Rational solutions into the classrooms today to help fuel the future software developers of tomorrow. Check out this site dedicated to professors and universities who promote and teach software engineering practices, which allows access to courseware and software.
The IMPACT 2008 Conference is just six weeks away
IMPACT 2008, April 6-11, is IBM's largest conference on SOA and the technologies that power SOA, including Rational. Check out the highlights at www.ibm.com/soa/impact2008 and register today.
In case you missed them over the past year, here is a round-up of our most popular features and technical articles recently published. Please take a look at our archives, either by category or by date, to find more content to help you in your understanding of software development concepts.
Making agile mainstream: Crossing the chasmMarch 2007
While agile development practices have been used successfully for years, the techniques have yet to be adopted by a majority of software development organizations. The author explores reasons for this, and describes trends that may push agility toward greater acceptance in the industry.
Best practices for lean development governance -- Part 1: Principles and organizationJune 2007
The first in a series of articles covering IBM Rational's recommended approach to governing modern software development efforts, this article explores the mission and principles of lean governance, along with the organization and stakeholder collaboration required for project-by-project success.
Best practices for lean development governance -- Part III: Roles and policiesAugust 2007
The third in a series of articles covering IBM Rational's recommended approach to governing modern software development efforts, this article presents the roles and responsibilities, as well as the policies and standards to be adopted in lean software development governance.
OpenUP In a NutshellSept 2007
This article explores OpenUP, a recently developed process framework for software development, focused on agile practices derived from the Rational Unified Process. The author uses sidebar commentary to explain OpenUP to RUP-savvy readers.
Introducing IBM Rational Asset ManagerJuly 2007
The growing need to reuse software development assets has led to a resurgent interest in asset management solutions. Read how a product like IBM Rational Asset Manager can help organizations understand what assets they have in order to eliminate duplication, reduce costs, and improve software quality and time to market.
Understanding architectural assetsSept 2007
This article discusses the various kinds of reusable assets available to the software architect, explains their characteristics and interrelationships, and offers tips on how best to make use of them.
Effective agile delivery toward globalizationOctober 2007
For software development organizations seeking overseas markets for their commercial products, considerable planning must be factored into the development lifecycle to accommodate cultural and language differences. This article recommends a variety of techniques to assist in globalizing your software development efforts.
The governance landscape: Steering and measuring development organizations to align with business strategyFebruary 2007
Are you seeking a clear explanation of organizational governance? This paper describes different levels of governance and how they affect critical management concerns such as productivity and risk. It also explores the link between good governance and the ability of software development organizations to align their processes with business strategy.
Operational IT governanceMay 2007
This article introduces an operational approach to IT governance, describing governance as an intentional activity with its own lifecycle and artifacts. The authors then describes a value-based approach to IT governance processes and a set of principles that IT organizations can adapt to realize the benefits of governance in their business setting.
The emerging role of IT governanceDecember 2007
This article covers some of the key concepts regarding the emerging role of IT governance and introduces the IBM Rational Development Organization Transformation framework and the IBM IT Governance Approach.
Organizational capability and portfolio management adoptionMarch 2007
This article provides insight into how organizations can determine their organizational readiness and current capabilities for use of the discipline of portfolio management.
Sustaining Portfolio Management: The EPMO ContributionMay 2007
The seventh installment in a series on Portfolio Management, this article offers insight into the contribution an Enterprise Portfolio, Program or Project Management Office (EPMO) can make to sustaining Portfolio Management as an organizational discipline.
A roadmap to method developmentFebruary 2007
This article describes an iterative, risk-driven, architecture-centric, and quality-oriented approach to method development derived from the long-term experience of the IBM Rational Unified Process (RUP) development team. It first describes the work products to be produced, and then lays out a step-by-step roadmap for applying the approach throughout a method development project. The approach utilizes software development and RUP principles, and can be implemented using IBM Rational Method Composer (RMC).
The IBM Rational Unified Process for System z: Making Development on System z More AgileJune 2007
Many software development practitioners in IBM System z environments have long believed that iterative development and other "modern" methods are not applicable to their projects. IBM, however, disagrees. This article introduces the IBM Rational Unified Process for System z (RUP for System z) -- a new process framework specifically created to support iterative development on System z software development projects, while making optimum use of proven System z development tools and principles.
Waterfalls in the Land of OzJune 2007
Read how the IBM Rational services organization faces and helps customers resolve obstacles in adopting iterative, incremental software development practices.
The art and science of IT enablementAugust 2007
Read how software consultants can apply an objective, measurable method to the process of improving the organizational culture of a business. By analyzing several factors, including motivation, fiduciary visibility, and strategic alignment, the author shows how positive change can be effected.
The Role of SOA Quality Management in SOA Service Lifecycle ManagementMarch 2007
The article describes SOA Service Lifecycle Management and explains the importance of SOA Quality Management with the support of IBM Rational tools and best practices for aligning SOA development activities with business goals.
IBM Rational PurifyPlus for developers and testersDecember 2007
Is IBM Rational PurifyPlus a tool for testers or for developers? The answer is: both. It helps support both these roles in their shared quest to maximize product quality by eliminating defects and optimizing reliability and performance. This article explains how PurifyPlus works and how both developers and testers can employ it effectively.
An engineering paradigm for Service Oriented ArchitectureMay 2007
This article presents an approach for using the IBM Rational Unified Process (RUP) framework in combination with Model Driven Systems Development (MDSD) to reduce risk in the development of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) components. It also touches on some of the pitfalls associated with SOA development.
Model Driven Development: Are MDD models assets or liabilities?July 2007
Despite strong evidence for the value of model-driven development, the industry has still not adopted it as the preferred methodology for systems and software development. Read why organizations need to take advantage of MDD as a modern and potentially very powerful approach to software and systems development.
The role of logical decomposition in system architectureAugust 2007
In the case of software systems, complexity may be measured in terms of the number of paths activity may follow to arrive at a given state. The more possible paths, the more complex the system. Read how Murray Cantor develops this thought in the context of system architecture.
Introducing the RUP plug-in for Model Driven Systems DevelopmentNovember 2007
The Model-Driven Systems Development plug-in for the IBM Rational Unified Process (RUP) supports basic principles of systems engineering and MDSD. The RUP for MDSD plug-in will be of particular interest to the managers of a systems development project, as well as those concerned with system analysis and specification, system architecture, implementation, and test.
Understanding complexity November 2007
Complexity in software systems is unavoidable, but it is not unmanageable. Read how an IBM Distinguished Engineer approaches complexity from the standpoint of architecture and team organization.
Integrating systems measurement into your software and systems delivery process with the RUP for PSM Plug-inNovember 2007
Rational thought leaders created the IBM Rational Unified Process for Practical Software and Systems Measurement (RUP for PSM) Plug-in as part of an industry-wide effort to standardize project and process measurement in software development and delivery organizations. The new, third release of this product contains important additions and features, which are detailed in this article.
