FACIT-SME

Facilitate IT-providing SMEs by Operation-related Models and Methods

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The FACIT SME project addresses SMEs operating in the ICT domain. The goals are (a) to facilitate the use of Software Engineering (SE) methods and to systematize their application integrated with the business processes, (b) to provide efficient and affordable certification of these processes according to internationally accepted standards, and (c) to securely share best practices, tools and experiences with development partners and customers. The project targets (1) to develop a novel Open Reference Model (ORM) for ICT SME, serving as knowledge backbone in terms of procedures, documents, tools and deployment methods; (2) to develop a customisable Open Source Enactment System (OSES) that provides IT support for the project-specific application of the ORM; and (3) 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 consortium is shaped by 4 significant SME associations as well as a European association exclusively focused on the SME community in the ICT sector. Five R&D partners provide the required competences. Five SMEs operating in the ICT domain will evaluate the results in daily-life application. The major impact is expected for ICT SMEs by (a) optimising their processes based on best practise; (b) achieving internationally accepted certification; and (c) 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.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Many small information technology (IT) companies are struggling with long development times and excessive costs. EU-funded scientists created web-based tools to manage software development projects for greater success.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved with information and communication technology (ICT) could significantly enhance their competitive positions by employing advanced software engineering (SE) tools. Such SE methods reduce project time and costs while enhancing the likelihood of success.

EU-funded scientists developed such tools with ICT SMEs in mind in the context of the project 'Facilitate IT-providing SMEs by operation-related models and methods' (FACIT-SME). Their goal was to facilitate the use of SE methods through integration with business processes along with efficient and affordable certification of these processes.

The http://www.facit-sme.eu/home/ (FACIT portal) consists of four types of work areas. Its Open Reference Model (ORM) is the knowledge backbone containing SE methods, quality models, a reference model for IT SMEs, and additional tools and resources for SE. The Open Source Enactment System (OSES) provides IT support for a given project in a customisable way. The enterprise area enables individual SMEs to personalise and manage their own enterprise models according to the ORM tools. Individual enterprise administrators can add members to their domains and change access rights as needed. The project area allows enterprises to establish a number of projects whether based on ORMs or created independently. If successful, a project template can be created for future projects of a similar nature. Finally, scientists and engineers can execute their projects in the execution area using a workflow engine.

FACIT-SME provides a link to its http://www.regens.hu/facit_elearning/ (Virtual Learning Centre) , which explains and demonstrates the functionality of the portal and supports trainers and users in exploiting it effectively.

Project work has provided invaluable tools for ICT SMEs that will optimise processes based on best practices. This should reduce both project time and costs while enhancing product functionality. In addition, the open source nature of most of the deliverables will significantly impact the competitiveness of the numerous SMEs working in the European ICT sector.