QSM Announces Its SLIM-Suite and Project Management Methodology to Plug-in to IBM Rational Method Composer

Pairing with IBM Rational Unified Process Helps Customers Achieve Higher Software Development Standards in CMMI and ISO 9000

MCLEAN, Virginia, June 11, 2007 – QSM, Inc., a leader in software development estimation, planning, and project management, today announced the methodology in its SLIM Suite of tools will be provided as a plug-in to the IBM Rational Unified Process in IBM Rational Method Composer (RMC). This tie-in brings the value of QSM’s renowned processes for Project Estimation and Planning, Measurement, Project Control and Adaptive Forecasting, to Rational RMC users for the first time. These RMC plug-in processes support the achievement of higher maturity levels in industry best practice process standards such as SEI’s CMMI and ISO 9000, which are of increasing importance to Rational customers.

IBM's Rational Method Composer represents the next generation of IBM Rational Unified Process tooling. It is a flexible process platform containing processes and tools for use in multiple business and IT dimensions and throughout IT lifecycle management (ITLM). IBM Rational Method Composer helps users manage and deliver customized and consistent sets of processes, practices, and guidance to organizational and individual work areas. SLIM, QSM’s Software Lifecycle Management suite of tools and solutions, supports better decision making at each stage of the software lifecycle: estimating, tracking, benchmarking and metrics analysis. Each tool is designed to deliver results whether used as a standalone application or as part of QSM’s integrated suite of proven software metrics tools.

“Using IBM Rational Method Composer gave QSM the tools necessary to easily customize and document our time-tested measurement, estimation and control methodology,” said Lawrence H. Putnam, Jr., Managing Partner, QSM. “Using our own tools in the process proved its own worth. As a direct result, our new RUP plug-in will bring the capability for intelligent estimation to any business evaluating the costs of multiple IT projects. Organizations that implement and use these industry best practice management methods have shown to be more productive and deliver higher-quality and more reliable solutions to their customers," said Putnam. "This solution is critical for any development organization operating in either a fixed cycle time or fixed cost environment, and most customers are faced with one or both of these constraints. It provides documented processes and guidance for implementing industry best practice software management methods,” he added.

QSM is participating in the Ready for IBM Rational software validation program and has validated its IBM Rational Method Composer plug-in, QSM Measurement and Estimation Plug-in to IBM Rational Method Composer, to the program. IBM lays out specific requirements for adding value to IBM Rational software. QSM views its relationship with IBM Rational as a way to take software measurement, estimation, and control mainstream and integrate it into an organization’s use of the IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform and processes. Return on investment can be fast and dramatic, and tends to be directly related to size of the organization implementing these software management processes. For example, QSM worked with a telecom company division that reported reducing the percentage of their projects out of financial control from 80% ($14 million) to 10% ($1.6 million) within two years of implementing these software management methods.