Software Engineering Risk Management: Finding Your Path through the Jungle

The Software Engineering Risk Management (SERIM) application will help you find a safer path through the software development jungle. SERIM takes periodic "readings" on the status of your software development projects so you can focus on high-priority risk areas. After risks are identified, SERIM helps you develop proactive plans for mitigating risk before they sabotage your projects. SERIM may be used in the pre-requirements phase to develop risk projections that help you plan your projects more realistically.

This interactive, easy-to-use Windows application gives you an automated way to determine the risks of your software project. Determine within minutes how risky your software project is during all stages of development. The product is based on the SERIM model in the bestselling book Software Engineering Risk Management.

Using the mathematics of probability, Dr. Karolak has designed formulas that assess your projects' risks by entering numeric ratings for a series of metric questions within the ten major software development risk factors, analyze your projects' risk scores from any or all of the five different analytical perspectives, and "Drill down" within each analytical perspective to design action plans to improve your probability of success with any high-priority metric question.

The SERIM model: Identifies different risks for technical implementation, cost, and schedule, Predicts risks by software development phases, Provides a means for corrective action to reduce risks, Identifies the effectiveness of your software risk management activities, Measures the risk associated with your software product and process, Is user friendly and comes with example projects, Handles multiple projects for analyzing software risks.

Dr. Dale Walter Karolak is currently an Engineering Director at TRW Automotive Electronics. His previous positions include Software and System Engineering Manager at ITT Aerospace/Communications, and Software Engineer at GTE Communications Systems R&D Labs. He received his Ph.D. in Software Engineering from The Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, his M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix, and his B.S. in Computer Science from Central Michigan University.

Dr. Karolak is the author of the IEEE's best selling book, Software Engineering Risk Management. He has presented and published over 10 papers in the areas of Software Management, metrics, reliability, quality, testing, and architecture at IEEE, ACM, NSIA, Association of Management, Applied Software Measurement, International Software Engineering Research Forum, and Medical Device conferences and journals. He also holds a patent on "Communication Management System Architecture," and has three other software architecture and communication patents pending. He is a member of the IEEE, ACM and SAE societies.