11.01.2017 Views

A Technical History of the SEI

ihQTwP

ihQTwP

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>of</strong> Defense and flag <strong>of</strong>ficers from <strong>the</strong> military departments. This oversight body reviews and approves<br />

<strong>the</strong> strategy and <strong>the</strong> annual program plan. The JAC is supported by an executive group<br />

(JAC/EG), composed <strong>of</strong> executives representing <strong>the</strong> JAC organizations. The JAC/EG provides a<br />

more in-depth evaluation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> strategic plans and annual work plan, and recommends <strong>the</strong> appropriate<br />

actions to <strong>the</strong> JAC. While operational management is <strong>the</strong> responsibility <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>SEI</strong> director,<br />

<strong>the</strong> sponsoring organization assigns a program manager to ensure that <strong>the</strong> JAC and JAC/EG guidance<br />

is carried out within <strong>the</strong> provisions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> contract. The original Air Force program manager<br />

formed a <strong>Technical</strong> Advisory Group (TAG) composed <strong>of</strong> government and academic experts to advise<br />

<strong>the</strong>m on technical matters. The TAG has been continued to <strong>the</strong> present and has become part<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> oversight function.<br />

The principal responsibility <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> program manager has traditionally involved two primary functions:<br />

(1) guiding <strong>the</strong> <strong>SEI</strong>’s selection <strong>of</strong> effort to be conducted under line funding, and (2) overseeing<br />

efforts conducted under separately funded project work statements (PWS) to ensure that<br />

<strong>the</strong>se efforts are consistent with <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> DoD and associated U.S. government agencies.<br />

Just as <strong>the</strong> <strong>SEI</strong> understanding <strong>of</strong> its mission has changed and <strong>the</strong> technology upon which it bases<br />

its work has changed, so have <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> DoD changed. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, as responsibility for<br />

<strong>the</strong> sponsoring agent has been shifted from <strong>the</strong> Air Force to OSD to DARPA and back to OSD,<br />

<strong>the</strong> individual perspectives <strong>of</strong> those who filled <strong>the</strong> (program manager/executive agent) position<br />

has changed. In 2010, <strong>the</strong> <strong>SEI</strong> was directed to concentrate line funding primarily on research and<br />

some workforce development, leaving technical support for PWS funding.<br />

Consequently, in 2010, <strong>the</strong> DoD sponsoring agreement modified <strong>the</strong> mission statement to provide<br />

greater emphasis on research,<br />

…to provide technical leadership and innovation through research and development to advance<br />

<strong>the</strong> practice <strong>of</strong> s<strong>of</strong>tware engineering and technology in support <strong>of</strong> DoD needs.<br />

The <strong>SEI</strong>’s core statement [<strong>SEI</strong> 2010] specified three areas in which <strong>the</strong> <strong>SEI</strong> has traditionally provided<br />

value, although <strong>the</strong> new guidance shifts <strong>the</strong> emphasis for line-funded work to R&D. The<br />

three areas were<br />

(1) Research and Development<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

research projects that make significant improvements to s<strong>of</strong>tware engineering and related disciplines<br />

collaborations that leverage work found in industrial research, academia, and government laboratories<br />

maintaining cognizance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> global s<strong>of</strong>tware state <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> art/state <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> practice in s<strong>of</strong>tware<br />

engineering and related disciplines to identify potential advancements, trends, issues, and new<br />

strategic directions for DoD systems<br />

(2) <strong>Technical</strong> Support<br />

<br />

<strong>the</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> technical support addressing specified s<strong>of</strong>tware engineering problems that impede<br />

<strong>the</strong> government’s ability to develop, acquire, deploy, evolve, and sustain high-quality<br />

s<strong>of</strong>tware-reliant systems at a predictable performance, cost, and schedule<br />

CMU/<strong>SEI</strong>-2016-SR-027 | SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INSTITUTE | CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY 9<br />

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!