Automated Defect Prevention / Wiley - IEEE (PDF)

This book describes an approach to software management based on
establishing an infrastructure that serves as the foundation for
the project. This infrastructure defines people roles, necessary
technology, and interactions between people and technology. This
infrastructure automates repetitive tasks, organizes project
activities, tracks project status, and seamlessly collects project
data to provide measures necessary for decision making. Most
importantly, this infrastructure sustains and facilitates the
improvement of human-defined processes.

The methodology described in the book, which is called Automated
Defect Prevention (ADP) stands out from the current software
landscape as a result of two unique features: its comprehensive
approach to defect prevention, and its far-reaching emphasis on
automation. ADP is a practical and thorough guide to implementing
and managing software projects and processes. It is a set of best
practices for software management through process improvement,
which is achieved by the gradual automation of repetitive tasks
supported and sustained by this flexible and adaptable
infrastructure, an infrastructure that essentially forms a
software production line.

In defining the technology infrastructure, ADP describes
necessary features rather than specific tools, thus remaining
vendor neutral. Only a basic subset of features that
are essential for building an effective infrastructure has been
selected. Many existing commercial and non-commercial tools support
these, as well as more advanced features. Appendix E contains such
a list.