Improving diffusion practices in a software organization

Methods and tools that support systems development (SD) are usually motivated by a promise of better quality or increased productivity. In large software organizations, specialised methods departments often manage these methods and tools. However, these methods departments often focus more on the purchasing, tailoring and maintenance of technologies, rather than on systematically diffusing methods and tools into current practices. This paper reports on a systematic improvement initiative in a large software organization. The aim of this effort was to diagnose diffusion practices, to evaluate and adapt a service that can improve those diffusion practices, and to diffuse this new service. Insights from this initiative, together with theoretical reflections on the diffusion of SD technologies, are provided. It is suggested that the provision of services that help project personnel to understand and plan the diffusion of new SD technologies can play a key role in developing the focus and competencies needed to improve diffusion practices in large software organizations.