isospice - http://www.isospice.com
SPICE Vision
http://www.isospice.com/articles/8/1/SPICE-Vision/Page1.html
By Alec Dorling
Published on 10/1/2007
 

SpicevisionSPICE Vision is a powerful new tool for conducting assessments based on the new ISO/IEC 15504 standard. It provides powerful note taking capabilities to support assessment preparation, evidence recording and report preparation. SPICE Vision is available in two versions: standard and professional. The professional version supports merging of assessment files and full editing of standards frameworks.

SPICE Vision features

SpicevisionSPICE Vision is a powerful new tool for conducting assessments based on the new ISO/IEC 15504 standard. It provides powerful note taking capabilities to support assessment preparation, evidence recording and report preparation. SPICE Vision is available in two versions: standard and professional. The professional version supports merging of assessment files and full editing of standards frameworks.

Further information SPICE Vision

Key features include:

General

  • Configurable toolbars
  • Configurable windows environment using latest windows technology
  • Windows support for linking to files and http/ftp
  • Language support (English, Spanish - French, German, Portuguese)
  • Text highlighting (bold, colours)
  • Drag and drop text editing
  • Licensed assessment frameworks (PRM / PAM)

Assessment planning

  • Select assessment framework (PRM / PAM)
  • Select assessment file
  • Define assessment input
  • Edit assessment input text fields and windows
  • Select multiple instances of processes in assessment scope
  • Define target capability level for assessment (globally and/or individually by process)
  • Prepare checklists / assessor notes
  • Select practice indicator rating schema - Y/N or NPLF
  • Select indicator weighting scheme - none, according to supporting achievements, user defined

Assessment performance

  • Process Navigator
  • Process Attribute Navigator
  • Global assessment notes
  • Process assessment notes
  • Process strengths, weaknesses and improvement opportunities
  • Tabbed windows information - process definition, base practices, attribute definition, generic practices, input and output work products, work product characteristics
  • Rating of indicators
  • Rating of process attributes
  • Recommended process attribute rating based on selected weighting indicator scheme
  • Merge assessment data from different assessors - process notes, strengths, weaknesses and improvement opportunities (Pro version)
  • Display process and process attribute expert guidance notes
  • Display process reference material (best practices)

Assessment Reporting

  • Selection of processes for chart generation
  • Process capability level rating chart (automatic calculation based on process attribute rating)
  • Process attribute rating chart
  • Process risk rating chart (automatic calculation based on target capability level and process gaps)
  • Copy charts to clipboard
  • Generation of reports based on user definable word templates (assessment plan, assessment report)
  • Generation of documented assessment record using generic work template and selected data items

Assessment framework (Pro version)

  • Edit licensed assessment frameworks
  • User definable assessment frameworks
  • Edit process definitions and outcomes
  • Edit base practices, generic practices, work products, work product characteristics
  • Assign base practices to process outcomes
  • Assign generic practices to process attribute achievements
  • Assign work products to processes as input / output work products
  • Edit process expert guidance notes
  • Edit process attribute expert guidance notes
  • Edit process reference material (best practices)
  • Establish weighting for base practices and generic practices
  • Support for assigning base practices (special practices) to process attributes at all levels