Introduction
Team software process (TSP) is the use of specific software engineering approaches by a group of professionals in order to design, develop, and maintain a software system. The process involves the use of multiple disciplines that are tasked with each playing a role in improving the overall process. TSP can be used to specific development and maintenance projects, but overall aim to provide increased quality assurance and improved management development activities.
The concept of TSP was introduced by Watts Humphrey in the late 1980s. It was developed in response to the problems associated with software development and the need to formally define the relationship between stakeholders. Humphrey’s model includes a set of functional techniques aimed at controlling and managing the development process. This includes project estimation, scheduling, requirements definition, process improvement, quality assurance and engineering process.
The main components of TSP are planning, management, risk management, process design, documentation, quality assurance and engineering process. The first component is planning. This involves defining the scope, objectives, criteria and process to be followed and obtaining the resources necessary to carry out the project. This includes identifying the project stakeholders, creating the project budget and timeline, and creating the schedule.
The second component of TSP is management. This includes the management of the team as a whole and of the individual team members. It includes setting project goals and expectations, delegating tasks, providing leadership and guidance, developing and managing communication, resolving conflicts and making decisions on project direction. A third component is risk management. This is the process of identifying, assessing and prioritizing potential risks before the process begins and throughout the development process.
The fourth component of TSP is process design. This involves establishing the workflow, project organization and tracking tools required to create a software product. The fifth component is documentation. This involves creating a document that defines all aspects of the project, including, descriptions of the project and its components, timelines, tools, activities and risks. The sixth component is quality assurance. This is the process of reviewing, monitoring and testing the project to ensure all elements meet customer requirements, are meeting expectations and are conforming to industry standards.
The seventh component of TSP is engineering process. This involves the process of creating the software system and ensuring it is taking into the design, coding and testing stages. This includes documenting the architecture and design, testing and debugging the code, creating and managing configuration management, and ensuring the system is following industry guidelines.
Overall, team software process is a multi-disciplinary approach to software engineering that ensures high quality systems. It involves planning, management, risk management, process design, documentation, quality assurance and engineering process. It reduces the risks associated with software development and provides a framework for successful completion of the project. It is a valuable tool to ensure the delivery of reliable and maintainable software systems.
