Software Engineering Institute
Encyclopedia
The Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is a federally funded research and development center
headquartered on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, United States
. SEI also has offices in Arlington, Virginia, and Frankfurt
, Germany
. The SEI operates with major funding from the U.S. Department of Defense
. The SEI also works closely with industry and academia through research collaborations.
The SEI program of work is conducted in several principal areas: acquisition, process management, risk, security, software development, and system design.
for Software (now Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)
). The CMMI approach consists of models, appraisal methods, and training courses that have been proven to improve process performance. In 2006, Version 1.2 of the CMMI Product Suite included the release of CMMI for Development. CMMI for Development was the first of three constellations defined in Version 1.2: the others include CMMI for Acquisition and CMMI for Services. The CMMI for Services constellation was released in February 2009.
Another management practice developed by CERT, which is part of the SEI, is the Resiliency Management Model (RMM). The RMM is a capability model for operational resiliency management.
functional and non-functional properties of software systems. Key SEI tools and methods include the SEI Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method
(ATAM) method, the SEI Framework for Software Product Line Practice, and the SEI Service Migration and Reuse Technique (SMART).
Carnegie Mellon, Capability Maturity Model, CMM, CMMI, Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method, ATAM, and CERT are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Carnegie Mellon University.
SQUARE is listed at DHS National Cyber Security Division
Build Security In (BSI) initiative's site.
A web-based tool was recently created to assist teams using the SQUARE method.
(COTS)-based systems, network security and survivability, software process research, software product lines, CMMI, and the SEI Team Software Process.
SEI courses help bring state-of-the-art technologies and practices from research and development into widespread use. SEI courses are currently offered at the SEI’s locations in the United States and Europe. In addition, using licensed course materials, SEI Partners train thousands of individuals annually.
created the Software Process Achievement Award
program. In addition to rewarding excellence, the purpose of this award is to foster continuous advancement in the practice of software engineering and to disseminate insights, experiences, and proven practices throughout the relevant research and practitioner communities.
for industry, government and military applications and practices.
In addition, the SEI offers public courses, workshops, and conferences in process improvement, software architecture and product lines, and security.
protests since its construction began, many of which have been organized by Pittsburgh's Thomas Merton Center
.
Federally funded research and development center
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers conduct research for the United States Government. They are administered in accordance with U.S Code of Federal Regulations, Title 48, Part 35, Section 35.017 by universities and corporations....
headquartered on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. SEI also has offices in Arlington, Virginia, and Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The SEI operates with major funding from the U.S. Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. The SEI also works closely with industry and academia through research collaborations.
The SEI program of work is conducted in several principal areas: acquisition, process management, risk, security, software development, and system design.
Areas of work
The SEI defines specific initiatives aimed at improving organizations' software engineering capabilities.Management practices
Organizations need to effectively manage the acquisition, development, and evolution of software-intensive systems. Success in software engineering management practices helps organizations predict and control quality, schedule, cost, cycle time, and productivity. The best-known example of SEI work in management practices is the SEI’s Capability Maturity Model (CMM)Capability Maturity Model
The Capability Maturity Model is a development model that was created after study of data collected from organizations that contracted with the U.S. Department of Defense, who funded the research. This model became the foundation from which CMU created the Software Engineering Institute...
for Software (now Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)
Capability Maturity Model Integration
Capability Maturity Model Integration is a process improvement approach whose goal is to help organizations improve their performance. CMMI can be used to guide process improvement across a project, a division, or an entire organization...
). The CMMI approach consists of models, appraisal methods, and training courses that have been proven to improve process performance. In 2006, Version 1.2 of the CMMI Product Suite included the release of CMMI for Development. CMMI for Development was the first of three constellations defined in Version 1.2: the others include CMMI for Acquisition and CMMI for Services. The CMMI for Services constellation was released in February 2009.
Another management practice developed by CERT, which is part of the SEI, is the Resiliency Management Model (RMM). The RMM is a capability model for operational resiliency management.
Engineering practices
SEI work in engineering practices increases the ability of software engineers to analyze, predict, and control selectedfunctional and non-functional properties of software systems. Key SEI tools and methods include the SEI Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method
Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method
In software engineering, architecture tradeoff analysis method is a risk-mitigation process used early in the software development life cycle.ATAM was developed by the Software Engineering Institute at the Carnegie Mellon University...
(ATAM) method, the SEI Framework for Software Product Line Practice, and the SEI Service Migration and Reuse Technique (SMART).
Security
The SEI is also the home of the CERT/CC (CERT Coordination Center), the federally funded computer security organization. The SEI CERT Program's primary goals are to ensure that appropriate technology and systems-management practices are used to resist attacks on networked systems and to limit damage and ensure continuity of critical services in spite of successful attacks, accidents, or failures. The SEI CERT program is working with US-CERT to produce the Build Security In (BSI) website, which provides guidelines for building security into every phase of the software development lifecycle. The SEI has also conducted research on insider threats and computer forensics. Results of this research and other information now populate the CERT Virtual Training Environment.Carnegie Mellon, Capability Maturity Model, CMM, CMMI, Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method, ATAM, and CERT are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Carnegie Mellon University.
SQUARE
The CERT Coordination Center Program has developed a method to help organizations build security into the early stages of the production life cycle. The Security Quality Requirements Engineering (SQUARE) method consists of nine steps that generate a final deliverable of categorized and prioritized security requirements. Although the SQUARE method could likely be generalized to any large-scale design project, it was designed for use with information technology systems.SQUARE is listed at DHS National Cyber Security Division
National Cyber Security Division
The National Cyber Security Division is a division of the Office of Cyber Security & Communications, within the United States Department of Homeland Security's Directorate for National Protection and Programs...
Build Security In (BSI) initiative's site.
A web-based tool was recently created to assist teams using the SQUARE method.
SEI Partner Network
The SEI Partner Network helps the SEI disseminate software engineering best practices. Organizations and individuals in the SEI Partner Network are selected, trained, and licensed by the SEI to deliver authentic SEI services, which include courses, consulting methods, and management processes. The network currently consists of nearly 250 partner organizations worldwide.Conferences
The SEI sponsors national and international conferences, workshops, and user-group meetings. Other events cover subjects including acquisition of software-intensive systems, commercial off-the-shelfCommercial off-the-shelf
In the United States, Commercially available Off-The-Shelf is a Federal Acquisition Regulation term defining a nondevelopmental item of supply that is both commercial and sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, and that can be procured or utilized under government contract...
(COTS)-based systems, network security and survivability, software process research, software product lines, CMMI, and the SEI Team Software Process.
Education and training
Membership program
The SEI Membership Program helps the software engineering community to network. SEI Members include small business owners, software and systems programmers, CEOs, directors, and managers from both Fortune 500 companies and prominent government organizations in 36 different countries.Affiliate program
Through the SEI Affiliate Program, organizations place technical experts with the SEI for periods ranging from 12 months to four years. Affiliates currently are working on projects with the SEI to identify, develop, and demonstrate improved software engineering practices.Software Process Achievement award program
In order to recognize outstanding achievement in improving an organization's ability to create and evolve software-dependent systems, the SEI and IEEE Computer SocietyIEEE Computer Society
The IEEE Computer Society is a professional society of IEEE. Its purpose and scope is “to advance the theory, practice, and application of computer and information processing science and technology” and the “professional standing of its members.” The CS is the largest of 38 technical societies...
created the Software Process Achievement Award
Software Process Achievement Award
The IEEE Computer Society/Software Engineering Institute Software Process Achievement Award is a non-competitive award offered annually presented for outstanding and innovative contributions to the field of software quality ....
program. In addition to rewarding excellence, the purpose of this award is to foster continuous advancement in the practice of software engineering and to disseminate insights, experiences, and proven practices throughout the relevant research and practitioner communities.
Research and publications
The SEI publishes reports that offer new technical information about software engineering topics, whether theoretical or applied. The SEI also publishes books on software engineeringSoftware engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
for industry, government and military applications and practices.
In addition, the SEI offers public courses, workshops, and conferences in process improvement, software architecture and product lines, and security.
Focus of progressive protests
SEI has been a frequent site of anti-war movement and peace movementPeace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
protests since its construction began, many of which have been organized by Pittsburgh's Thomas Merton Center
Thomas Merton Center (Pittsburgh)
Thomas Merton Center, a Pittsburgh peace and social justice center, is an organization concerned with issues such as social justice, poverty, workers' rights, racial discrimination, ecology and peace. It serves as an organizing center for most of the city's left-leaning and liberal social movement...
.
See also
- Software engineeringSoftware engineeringSoftware Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
- Software engineerSoftware engineerA software engineer is an engineer who applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that make computers or anything containing software, such as computer chips, work.- Overview :...