Software Engineering Institute

Centers of Excellence (COEs) are created throughout the federal government in all domains to signify expertise important for elevating the significance of the product or service that is provided. But how are these COEs designated, accredited, or certified? Are there means of auditing, assessing, or appraising them? How do they achieve their “Center of Excellence” appellation? The answer is not clear-cut or without mystery. It is often a matter of trust to accept that the excellence declared in any COE domain exists.  

Criteria and standards to certify an organization as a COE are presented in this Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute preliminary report. These standards are derived, in part, from the balanced scorecard business approach and reflect criteria suggested by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Software Engineering Directorate (SED).  

An assessment approach was developed employing established criteria and standards to certify an organization. The assessment approach took advantage of the established appraisal, assessment, and audit methodology. Other assessment approaches, such as ISO audit techniques, were investigated and incorporated as appropriate.