- Setting up departement responsible for software process and requirements engineering using the Rational Unified Process®.

In 2002 the CIP organization was set up to unify and optimize Information Management for the Dutch Police. In 2003 the Rational Unified Process® was selected to standardize software delivery. Prince2® became the accepted project management approach. Within CIP the FA departement (Dutch abbreviation for Functional Analysis) was made responsible for the software delivery process in general. More specifically their focus consisted of requirements engineering, interaction design and project estimation. Based on the separation of demand and supply the actual software development is the reponsibility of a sister organization called ISC.

Empulsys’ initial assignment was to mentor the definition and setting-up of the FA department. Mentoring requirements engineering on an actual software project was part of the job. Using RUP® Business Modeling the (strategic) goals of the FA department were defined. The next step was to identify and define it’s processes and responsibilities. Then followed the alignment of the FA goals with those of senior management and other departments. Finally we helped identify concrete actions to achieve the defined goals. One of the resulting initiatives was to professionalize FA itself through mentoring and training.

After this initial assignment Empulsys professionals participated in several projects in a mentor role to help ensure the achievement of the FA departments’ goals. Along with mentoring, Empulsys was requested to train all requirements engineering and project management staff in applying RUP, Object Orientation, Requirements Management and Business Modeling.

While CIP has achieved a level of self-sufficiency, Empulsys remains a key advisor to periodically address management issues that arise in CIP’s day-to-day business.

“Empulsys mentoring and training services have proven their added value in improving our software engineering and management capability.”

- John Duteweert, Manager FA department CIP.