A Guide to the Assessment of Software Development Methods

Over the past decade, the term "software engineering methods" has been attached to a variety of procedures and techniques that attempt to provide an orderly, systematic way of developing software. Existing methods approach the task of software engineering in different ways. Deciding which methods to use to reduce development costs and improve the quality of products is a difficult task. This report outlines a five-step process and an organized set of questions that provide method assessors with a systematic way to improve their understanding of and form opinions about the ability of existing methods to meet their organization's needs.