MPS Model-Based Software Acquisition Process Improvement in Brazil

This paper describes an initiative to improve software acquisition process in Brazil. This initiative was conducted in the context of the MPS.BR Program, a nationwide effort to develop and disseminate the MPS Model both in large organizations and small and medium-size enterprises (SME). The MPS Model was developed aiming to represent Brazilian software industry needs and is constituted of three main components: the MPS Reference Model; the MPS Assessment Method; and the MPS Business Model. One of the MPS Model processes is the Acquisition process for software and related services. This paper presents the main achievements of the MPS.BR Program but it is focused on the Acquisition Process described in the MPS Acquisition Guide (a stand-alone guide that constitutes one of the base elements of the MPS Model). This work also presents the customization of the MPS Acquisition process for specific purposes in the context of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA), including process instantiation of the customized acquisition process, aiming to improve quality of basic projects in the Information Technology Area and to assure contracting of services and products which satisfy the MAPA needs.