Table of Contents

preface vii

1 The goals, activities, and organization of an object technology center

Introduction 2

The goals of an OTC 3
Drive acceptance of object technology 4, Ensure success of projects using OT 4, Transfer expertise to the development staff 5, Mature the OO process being used by the corporation 6, Define effective roles for projects using OT 7, Assist with the selection of pilot OO projects 8

OTC interactions 9

Setting up an OTC 12
Funding models 12, Business justification 13, Organizational structure and staffing 15, Goals and objectives 19

Activities 21
Shielding projects from corporate politics 22, Mentoring and apprenticeships 22, Creating and distributing handbooks 24, Supporting reuse 27, Other supplemental activities 27

Types of OTCs 28
Corporate consultants 28, Corporate infrastructure 29, OTC spectrum 29, Life cycle of an OTC 30

Lessons learned 31

Comsoft-the meta-OTC 32

Summary 33

References 34

TOM KRISTEK, GEOFF HAMBRICK, AND TOM GUINANE

Background and introduction 36
Why object technology? 36, The proposed solution 37, Getting started 39, Start-up pains 40

OOTC mission, role, and current goals 42
OOTC mission and role 42, OOTC current goals 43

Organization and staffing 43
Organization 44, Current consulting staff 44, Logistics 45, Operating principles 47

Activities 47
Categories of requirements 47, Types of offerings 48, Technology transfer through mentoring 50, Documents 63, Assistance 69, Events 70, OOTC apprentice program 72, Cross-IBM information exchange 72, Support of IBM strategies 73, Support of research 74, Publicity of object technology 74, Summary of activities 74

Lessons learned in the evolution of the OOTC 76
Customers want strong recommendations 77, Consultants must leave knowledge behind 78, Work products are more important than techniques 78, Site leadership is critical 79, Technology lessons 80

Conclusions 80

GERARD MESZAROS

Background and introduction 84
BNR and Northern Telecom 84, About the Generic Service Framework project 84, Why object technology? 85, Before the object center 85

Organization and staffing 86
Establishing the mandate 86, Obtaining funding 87, Initial staffing 89, Early results 89

Mission of the object center 91

Activities of the object center 91
Education & information broker 93, Consulting and mentor-ing 94, Change organizational culture 95, Tool evaluation & acquisition 96, Custom method development 97, Process handbooks 99, Reuse guidelines 101, Justify object center 102

Evolution of the object center 103 Mandate evolution 103, Process ownership evolution 103, Structure evolution 104

Lessons learned 105
Use the OC as the focus of your organizational learning 105, Size your effort properly 105, Get high-level corporate commitment 105, Leverage your existing skill base 106, Don't rush buying a CASE tool 106, View consultants as an investment 106, Evolve the mandate of the OC 107, Don't go overboard looking for reuse 107

Conclusions 107

References 108

JOHN CUNNINGHAM

Background and introduction 110
Why object technology? 111, The business processing platform 112, Funding the proposal 113

Mission 114

Activities 115
The operating process: using the object technology center 116, Human resources: the backwall organization 118, Project team structure and dynamics 125, Object system center facilities 130, OOPSLA '93 list of object technology center activities 131

Evolution 134
Pre-OSC object development 134, Suspension of the OSC 134, Reinvigoration plan 135

Lessons learned 135
People are everything 136, Solve real business problems 137, Time is money 138

Conclusions 139

JAMIE ERBES

Background and introduction 142

Mission 146

Activities 147

Evolution 149
Central repository management and total quality management 151, Central object repository environ-ment 152, Object technology research and learning center 153, Mentorship and parts group 154

Lessons learned 157

Conclusions 158

Introduction 160

Andersen Consulting 160
Funding 161, Activities 162

Ascom Nexion 163
Funding 163, Activities 163

BellSouth 164
Funding 165, Activities 165

Microsoft 166
Funding 167, Activities 167

Northern Telecom 168
Funding 169, Activities 169

The Prudential Insurance Company of America 170
Funding 170, Activities 171

Timberline Software 172
Funding 172, Activities 172

The goals of an object technology center 176

OTC interactions 179 Setting up an OTC 180
Funding models 180, Business justification 181, Organizational structure and staffing 181

Activities 182
Shielding projects from corporate politics 182, Mentoring and apprenticeships 183, Creating and distributing handbooks 183, Supporting reuse 184

Types of OTCs 185
Corporate consultants 185, Corporate infrastructure 185

Lessons learned 186

Comsoft-the meta-OTC 187

Summary and observations 188