I am a PM with a small software product company. We are trying to develop a solid methodology around the installation, and then potential customization of our product. I know there will be a lot to say on this, but what I am really looking for are websites and other references that I can read and create a best-of-breed concept. Any recommendations? Saving Changes...
Dennis, for Six Sigma try ASQ, Six Sigma Qualtec, or The George Group. For Rummler Brache, try Pritchard and Partnersinprocess.com. The SME, Michael Wood has an excellent toolkit for implementing The Helix Factor. This is a step-by-step guide that will walk you through an entire project using a case study for the example. He includes the information other methodologies are afraid to publish.
For an inexpensive, yet powerful process documentation and simulation tool, try iGrafx.com. There are great downloads and white papers as well. There are other great tools out there, just be sure to keep process simulation in mind as you are building this best-of-breed concept. I use this frequently for Six Sigma and other process improvement projects. Anything else I can do for you, contact me at [email protected].
I beg to differ with Steve, but Six Sigma is more about solving problems amenable to data-intensive analysis. I would expect that the vast majority of generic details of the process associated with your software is already well understood. If not, you've probably got more work to do on the basic selling points of the product.
What you want to use to develop customization and installation plans is an approach that is designed to deal with concerns, obstacles, what-ifs, and "yes, buts" that usually stem from the logic of policies and behaviors in organizations. These situations require processes that are as much geared to the politics and buy-in of the situation as they are to analysis and design.
I agree with Frank's thoughts on Six Sigma in general. Six Sigma is massive overkill for your relatively simple needs.
You can try to create a best of breed solution but I can tell you from experience there are thousands of firms that have been doing exactly what you're doing in terms of selling a software product, customizing for a customer, and doing training / deployment.
Because you will be dealing with a large variety of customer environments I highly suggest you take a look at the Gold Standard in terms of industry software integration practices - Rational Unified Process or RUP.
RUP has 3 main components:
1) A 4-phase iterative process 2) A suite of software tools for integrating information streams from conception / vision through design and deployment. 3) A universal language, UML, used to allow business stakeholders, tech designers, developers, and project managers to speak a common language with common project artifacts (and traceability).
I highly recommend you invest some time in studying items 1 and 3. The majority of the Fortune 500 has bought into RUP at some level. It is the first industry standard widely embraced by both industry and consultants and more significantly by the techies in IS as well as business stakeholders.
There are many books,websites, consultancies, etc. dedicated to RUP. Start by looking at www.rational.com for links to references / vendors.
