Proposing a knowledge engineering based approach for process capability / maturity models customization

Software Process Capability/Maturity Models (SPCMMs) are repositories of best practices for software processes suitable for assessing and/or improving processes in software intensive organizations. Yet, although there is a trend to customize such models to specific domains, little research is done on how such SPCMMs should be developed with quality. In this paper, we, therefore, propose a systematic approach to support the customization of SPCMMs for specific domains. The approach is developed based on standard development processes integrating Knowledge Engineering techniques and experiences on how such models are currently developed in practice. First feedback from piloting the approach in the customization of ISO/IEC 15504, CMMI and MPS.BR for the SaaS scenario indicates that the approach can be useful for creation of SPCMMs.