Like any software development project,
implementing a software process improvement (SPI)
initiative in an organization presents risks that must
be identified and managed to ensure the highest
likelihood of success. One common risk in SPI
initiatives revolves around how ready an
organization is to accept and embrace the changes
that an SPI initiative brings. When an organization
is used to carry out their productive activities in a
certain way, members of the organization have
difficulty to make changes in the way they work
(Massey et al, 1998). Change occurs when any part
of the organizational system is modified or replaced.
Change means replacing what is established in
favour of something new. In a software process
improvement activity, old and established
development practices are replaced by improved,
streamlined, and more efficient practices and
processes. Even if the new practices and processes
selected for adoption enhance the organization’s
operations, there is always a tendency for the
organization to resist the change. Organizational
change readiness refers to the capacity that an
organization possesses to respond to new challenges
in its operational environment. This paper presents a
model that can be used to quantify this risk and