Studies

BICO

Development and application of BICO (Benchmarking and ISO 9001:2000 Combined). BICO is a life-cycle model which combines the ISO 9001:2000 requirements with quantitative assessment methods as a sound tool that supports the customer on the way to effective and efficient quality management.
BICO activities include the participation in a European training programme that is supported by the Commission of the European Communities under the LEONARDO DA VINCI Programme.

Project Status Audit / BICO

On the basis of the BICO tools APAC developed a procedure for the very efficient and effective determination of the status of a project. The data collected during an audit allows a comparison of actual progress to planned progress. The resulting audit report identifies the project risks and determines the progress of the project in a quantitative way. The procedure has already been successfully applied in the air traffic systems environment (e.g. Frequentis, Siemens, DFS).

Project Management Model

Based on its experience in successful project management, APAC developed a goal-driven project management model that minimises risks and increases productivity. Accurate project tracking based on the Earned Value Method allows the timely identification of potential problem areas and the initiation of corrective actions. APAC was assigned the task of implementing this model in a software development company. It was part of the contract to adapt the model to company-specific needs, training and the management of several projects during implementation.

ISVV (Independent Software Verification and Validation)

A study on the verification, validation and evaluation of software projects by external, independent companies was conducted. This study was funded partly by the Austrian Authorities (FFF) and supervised by ESA/ESTEC.

IX (Independent X-Model)

On the basis of a study under the supervision of ESA/ESTEC, APAC developed a process model for IV&V (Independent verification and validation in accordance with the APAC IX-model) that can be tailored to the needs of the customer.

APoMet

Development of an effective metric set for small and medium -sized companies.

SWE

Verification of the hypothesis “Software Engineering Pays“. The study consists of an experimental study and of research based on existing data and literature. In the experimental study, six teams developed a programme starting out with the same specification but with different requirements for the development process. The results show the influence of appropriate software engineering methods on the quality, the schedule, the development effort and the maintenance effort of a software product.

PICO (Process Improvement Combined Approach)

The mission of PICO was to develop a set of tutorials dealing with the different improvement approaches which can be combined to become an overall model to transfer state-of-the-art improvement knowledge. The project was funded partly by the Commission of the European Communities under the LEONARDO DA VINCI Programme. APAC was the prime contractor and was responsible for the project management and quality management of the multinational project.

APLET

APAC developed a solution based on MS-Exchange to support Project Management, Quality Management and Configuration Management.

PICO Toolset Project Management (Process Improvement Combined Approach)

Multi-platform data collection SW tool for safety and quality auditing in a distributed environment with a central database to store data of different organisations with the option that data can be compared without disclosing their origin. Remote access via internet or dial-up as well as a graphical visualisation of the results were also implemented. Several interfaces to import data from other tools were implemented. APAC was the prime contractor, and partners involved in the development of the tool were ISCN/Ireland, aimware/Ireland, ami/France. The SW was developed and distributed among the partners and integrated/tested at APAC.

ASMM - APAC Safety Management Model

At the end of 2004, APAC launched an internal project with the aims

• to develop a methodology for safety audits in cooperation with Corvinus University Budapest (ASMM project); and
• to develop material for common requirement audits and to obtain the authorisation to call itself a "recognised organisation" as defined in the Common Requirements for the Provision of Air Navigation Services. This methodology for safety audits will include the development of a safety maturity model.