Software Engineering Institute

The Software Acquisition Improvement Framework (SAIF) is a computer-aided system that supports the improvement of an organization's software acquisition process capability and performance. The framework integrates an acquisition-process reference model, such as the Software Acquisition Capability Maturity Model (SA-CMM); a process that defines the improvement approach, such as the SEI's IDEAL) method; plus guidance and other artifacts, which support the use of the model and improvement process. The guidance and artifacts are stored in a repository that automatically links them to the rest of the framework. This linking is structured to ensure that the reference model, the improvement process, and the supporting artifacts are available to the organization at the right time in the improvement process phases and to focus on the areas for which the organization seeks improvement. This document discusses rationale behind the need for the SAIF, the elements constituting the SAIF, and the intended operational usage of the SAIF.