Robbins-Gioia signs agreement with Software Engineering Institute to help ensure software development excellence; Robbins-Gioia to deliver industry standard project management workshop for software development professionals

Business Wire, Sept 12, 1995

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 1995--Robbins-Gioia Inc. (R-G) announced today a collaborative agreement with the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute (SEI) to develop a workshop that helps the U.S. software industry maintain its leadership position.

The collaborative agreement names R-G as the primary developer of a software project management workshop based upon the SEI Capability Maturity Model(SM), the software development benchmark standard for corporate and government information systems organizations, and software companies. The workshop has held a pilot in Virginia and is currently accepting registration applications.

SEI developed the Capability Maturity Model [CMM(SM)] which systematically institutionalizes sound technical and management practices within software development organizations. SEI employs CMM as the measurement in evaluating an organization's software development process, rating the quality of processes, productivity and integrity of the software. The rating scale is one to five with five being the highest. Nearly 379 software development groups have been through a CMM audit and approximately 73 percent receive a one rating.

"The CMM rating is becoming a key criteria in awarding software development contracts for work with commercial companies and government agencies," said Clyde Chittister, Industry Program director, Software Engineering Institute. "Teaming up with R-G will help us continue to educate software development professionals in leading program management and implementation techniques."

R-G will be the only supplier involved in this SEI initiative and will employ its proven software project administration process linked to key project management support methods and tools as part of the workshop. R-G personnel will serve as workshop instructors, teaching participants to build solid software process infrastructures, using effective software engineering and program management practices.

"Our work with clients in both commercial industry and government sectors has focused on the ability to deliver key process improvements, sound technical skills and quality systems that result in improved business performance," said Tony Baggiano, chief operating officer, Robbins-Gioia Inc. "This workshop is a very good vehicle to take what we have learned over the years and transfer that knowledge to software development professionals around the country."

The Robbins-Gioia Inc. vision is to make its customers successful. The company has accepted the challenge of helping organizations manage complex business implementations for over 15 years. With its implementation control and business management engineers, Robbins-Gioia helps clients realize success on their terms. With an integrated approach, using "Structured Business Methods," the company combines industry and functional expertise, business methodologies and processes, technology and automation tools with education and training services, to help government and commercial clients worldwide maintain a competitive edge in an ever-changing marketplace.

SEI is a federally funded research and development center established and operated by Carnegie Mellon University and sponsored by the Department of Defense. One SEI mission is to improve the software development process through methods and tools that enhance the managerial and technical aspects of software engineering.

For more information on the agreement with SEI or Robbins-Gioia Inc., please call 703/548-7006 or write 209 Madison Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. -0- Editor's Note: CMM(SM) and the Capability Maturity Model(SM) are service marks of Carnegie Mellon University.

CONTACT: Thomas B. Christel, 703/706-4009