Navigating software process improvement projects

Software process improvement (SPI) is one of the most widely used approaches to innovate software organizations. In this study, we identify and compare two different tactics for SPI projects. The first tactic, the supertanker, is inspired by centralist thinking. It is driven by process-push, and it aims for efficient process development and diffusion. The second tactic, the motorboat, is inspired by decentralist thinking. [It facilitates practice-pull, and it aims for adaptive process development and diffusion. Our analysis of 18 SPI projects at Ericsson in Gothenburg shows how the two tactics lead to different practices and outcomes. We discuss on that basis what SPI tactics to use and identify the presence of muddy and unknown waters as the key characteristic that requires motorboat tactics. We suggest that today's changing business environment calls for agile SPI practices that employ adaptive governance mechanisms at the corporate level and combines motorboat tactics with revised supertanker tactics.