FACIT-SME - EU FP7 PROJECT

There are several quality standards in the field of informatics, thus it is hard to decide which helps an ICT SME to be more competitive and efficient in software development. Big companies usually have advantage due to their resources and certifications, therefore SMEs forced to invest in expensive certifications in order to be more competitive in applying a tender, but most of these SMEs don't use the standards in practice.

German, Italian, Spanish and Hungarian companies (IVSZ, Régens Zrt. and Új Calculus Ltd.) established FACIT-SME consortium and began FACIT-SME FP7 project (coordinated by Fraunhofer IPK) which aims to facilitate IT-providing SMEs by Operation-related Models and Methods. It helps to standardize software developing process by applying the expectations of ISO, CMMI, SPICE and IT Mark standards. As a result it provides ICT SMEs an optimized software development process model and tools in order to widen their business opportunities, make them more competitive and make their projects more successful in quality point of view.

"The FACIT SME project addresses SMEs operating in the ICT domain. The goals are to facilitate the use of Software Engineering methods and to systematize their application integrated with the business processes, to provide efficient and affordable certification of these processes according to internationally accepted standards, and to securely share best practices, tools and experiences with development partners and customers.

The project targets

• to develop a novel Open Reference Model (ORM) for ICT SME, serving as knowledge backbone in terms of procedures, documents, tools and deployment methods;
• to develop a customisable Open Source Enactment System (OSES) that provides IT support for the project-specific application of the ORM;
• and to evaluate these developments with 5 ICT SMEs by establishing the ORM, the OSES and preparing the certifications.

The approach combines and amends achievements from Model Generated Workplaces, Certification of SE for SMEs, and model-based document management.

The major impact is expected for ICT SMEs by

• optimising their processes based on best practise;
• achieving internationally accepted certification;
• • and provision of structured reference knowledge.

They will improve implementation projects and make their solutions more appealing to SMEs. ICT SME communities (organized by associations) will experience significant benefit through exchange of recent knowledge and best practises. By providing clear assets (ORM and OSES), the associations shape the service offering to their members and strengthen their community. The use of Open Source will further facilitate the spread of the results across Europe.” http://www.facit-sme.eu/

Click here to visit the official web page of FACIT-SME and to read project deliverables.