Delivering Thought Leadership Focused on Business Value:  SSCI’s 2010 Technical Focus

“We need it now” is the recurring theme we hear from our members and their customers. With this in mind, SSCI’s 2010 technical program will provide the latest practical engineering best practices and process improvement support using an incremental delivery model. This approach will enable a more timely delivery of products and services to our members with continuous improvements from feedback through actual usage.

The following paragraphs describe several recent and future SSCI initiatives that are shaping our 2010 technical focus.

Expanding Partnerships

In 2009, SSCI published a special report with the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), Insights on Program Success, describing the factors other than process-related factors that influence program success. This paper benefited from the extensive program experience of both organizations and strengthened our existing partnership.

SSCI also facilitated a workshop on technologies for rapid fielding in support of a study being conducted by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD). The workshop participants, consisting of thought leaders from SSCI and its member companies, provided an industry perspective on the methods, practices, and tools in use that show promise in supporting the study’s goal of drastically reducing the cycle time needed to field mission-critical capabilities. OUSD incorporated our workshop recommendations in their final report to the Honorable Zachary Lemnios, Director, Defense Research and Engineering for OUSD. SSCI’s Board of Directors has recommended our continued support as OUSD begins implementing the study’s recommendations.

2010 Delivery Approach

Right now SSCI’s subject matter experts are developing and refining a series of roadmaps that describe the evolution of technologies and solve member challenges. These roadmaps define an approach for delivering proposed solutions in smaller, more targeted segments that provide immediate value to members.  In addition, the resulting solutions will benefit from ongoing feedback and lessons learned.  

SSCI’s roadmaps support member needs in several key technical areas, including eLearning, Process Analysis, Model Driven Engineering, Service Management, Security and Information Assurance, Disciplined Agility, and Concept Engineering.  Throughout 2010, the roadmaps will be updated and the solutions will be reprioritized by the Board of Directors’ Strategy Committee based on the evaluation of feedback received, identification of new opportunities, and in response to changing needs.

New information related to our 2010 technical program will be communicated to our members on an ongoing basis and technology roadmaps approved by the Strategy Committee will be posed to our website.

Contemporary Alternatives Augment Our Knowledge Service Portfolio

As the pace of technology continues to quicken, there is a corresponding need for organizations to stay informed of the latest trends and current changes in everything from standards to implementation practices. Paradoxically, most people today have even less time available to participate in knowledge sharing events such as training, workshops, and technical exchanges. In response to this need, SSCI is shifting many of our traditional knowledge sharing events to modes that utilize contemporary technologies.  For example, in 2009, SSCI reformatted several face-to-face training courses to be available via webinar.  In addition, our most recent technical exchange was presented in a completely virtual format using WebEx.

This year SSCI began a project to pilot on-demand training.  Starting in February, members will be asked to provide feedback on several on-demand training modules as a prelude to augmenting our current training portfolio. SSCI also launched our Facebook page.  Members can now fan our Facebook page as a new way to stay informed. SSCI will continue to identify mechanisms for expanding our ability to effectively provide knowledge sharing to our members. Suggestions and feedback are always welcome.

2010 is shaping up to be a dynamic year full of challenge and promise.

Posted by Jenn Shay at 02/03/2010 02:33:42 PM