Integrating ISO/IEC 29110 into Agile Workflows: A Practical Intervention Strategy for Very Small Entities
Abstract
Very Small Entities (VSEs), crucial to the software industry, often struggle to balance agile practices with the need for standardized processes to ensure quality. This research addresses the challenge of adopting ISO/IEC 29110 in agile VSEs, where resource constraints and a preference for informality hinder standardization. We propose a multi-faceted intervention strategy focusing on gradual, low-intrusion adoption of ISO/IEC 29110, leveraging existing tools and aligning with agile principles. The methodology mapping, case studies, and professional surveys to develop and validate this strategy. The expected outcome is an implementation strategy, supported by tools and instruments, to enhance both process and product quality in VSEs.
Keywords:
ISO/IEC 29110, Agile Methods, Very Small Entities
References
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Muñoz, M., Mejia, J., Peña, A., Laporte, C., & Gasca-Hurtado, G. P. (2020). What Motivates VSEs to Adopt an International Standard Such as ISO/IEC 29110? An Exploratory Analysis. En Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement (pp. 730–741). Springer International Publishing. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-56441-4_55
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Sabando-Vera, D., Yonfa-Medranda, M., Montalván-Burbano, N., Albors-Garrigos, J., & Parrales-Guerrero, K. (2022). Worldwide research on open innovation in SMEs. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 8(1), 20. DOI: 10.3390/joitmc8010020
Santos, R. B. M. D., Figueiredo, P. S., & Marques, F. T. (2023). Challenges to agile software project management practices in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gestão & Produção, 30, e9722. DOI: 10.1590/1806-9649-2022v29e9722
Sommerville, I. (2020). Software engineering (10th ed.). Pearson Education.
Stojanov, Z. (2022, June). Software Maintenance Management in Micro Software Companies. Southeast European Review of Business and Economics, 3(1), 75–92. DOI: 10.20544/SERBE.05.01.22.P05
Suárez, D. R., & León, G. (2019). Las PyME de desarrollo de software. Modelos de mejora de sus procesos en Latinoamérica. Revista Espacios, 40(28), 9.
CertiProf. (2022). Agile Adoption Report 2022. p. 18. [link]
Digital.ai. (2023). The 17th State of Agile Report. [link]
INCOSE (Ed.). (2023). INCOSE systems engineering handbook (5a ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
ISO/IEC (2024). Systems and software engineering - Lifecycle profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) (ISO/IEC 29110-1-1:2024(en) [link]
Küpper, S., Pfahl, D., Jürisoo, K., Diebold, P., Münch, J., & Kuhrmann, M. (2019). How has SPI changed in times of agile development? Results from a multi-method study. Journal of Software: Evolution and Process, e2182. DOI: 10.1002/smr.2182
Laporte, C. Y., & O’Connor, R. V. (2016). Implementing Process Improvement in Very Small Enterprises with ISO/IEC 29110: A Multiple Case Study Analysis. 2016 10th International Conference on the Quality of Information and Communications Technology (QUATIC), 125–130. DOI: 10.1109/QUATIC.2016.033
Laporte, C. Y., Verret, G., & Muñoz, M. (2023). A Software Project That Partially Failed: A Small Organization That Ignored the Management and Technical Practices of Software Standards. Computer, 56(5), 138–144. DOI: 10.1109/MC.2023.3253979
Madgavkar, A., Piccitto, M., White, O., Ramirez, M. J., Mischke, J., & Chockalingam, K. (2024). A microscope on small businesses: Spotting opportunities to boost productivity. McKinsey Global Institute. [link]
Minero, García.,, J. J. & Lara, E. (2023). Automatización de los procesos del estándar ISO/IEC 29110 a través de la Adopción de DevOps. RISTI - Revista Ibérica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informação, 49, 37-51. DOI: 10.17013/risti.49.37-51
Muñoz, M., Mejia, J., & Lagunas, A. (2018). Implementation of the ISO/IEC 29110 standard in agile environments: A systematic literature review. 2018 13th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI), 1–6. DOI: 10.23919/CISTI.2018.8399332
Muñoz, M., Mejia, J., Peña, A., Lara, G., & Laporte, C. Y. (2019). Transitioning international software engineering standards to academia: Analyzing the results of the adoption of ISO/IEC 29110 in four Mexican universities. Computer Standards & Interfaces, 66, 103340. DOI: 10.1016/j.csi.2019.03.008
Muñoz, M., Mejia, J., Peña, A., Laporte, C., Gasca-Hurtado, G. P., & Gómez-Álvarez, M. C. (2021). An Exploratory Analysis of the Perception of the Utility of Proven Practices of the Software Basic Profile of ISO/IEC 29110 by a Set of VSEs in Mexico. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 439–456. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-85521-5_29
Muñoz, M., Mejia, J., Peña, A., Laporte, C., & Gasca-Hurtado, G. P. (2020). What Motivates VSEs to Adopt an International Standard Such as ISO/IEC 29110? An Exploratory Analysis. En Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement (pp. 730–741). Springer International Publishing. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-56441-4_55
Negrete, M., Infante, U., & Muñoz, M. (2021). A case study of improving a Very Small Entity with an Agile Software Development Based on the Basic Profile of the ISO/IEC 29110. In Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing.
Nolan, Aaron, Ben, Strickland., Adam, Quinn., Kyle, Gallagher., Murat, Yilmaz., Paul, M., Clarke. (2021). Exploring Aspects of Agile Software Development Risk - Results from a MLR. 486-502. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15559-8_35
Oktaba, H., Alquicira, C., Ramos, A. S., Martínez, A. M., Osorio, G. Q., López, M. R., Lira, F. L., López, M. E. R., Orozco, M. J., Ordóñez, Y. F., & Lemus, M. Á. F. (2005). Modelo de procesos para la industria de software MoProSoft (Versión 1.3). Secretaría de Economía.
Peffers, K., Tuunanen, T., Rothenberger, M. A., & Chatterjee, S. (2007). A design science research methodology for information systems research. Journal of Management Information Systems, 24(3), 45-77. DOI: 10.2753/mis0742-1222240302
Pinna, A., Lunesu, M. I., Orrù, S., & Tonelli, R. (2023). Investigation on Self-Admitted Technical Debt in Open-Source Blockchain Projects. Future Internet, 15(7), 232. DOI: 10.3390/fi15070232
Ragkhitwetsagul, C., Krinke, J., Choetkiertikul, M., Sunetnanta, T., & Sarro, F. (2024). Adoption of automated software engineering tools and techniques in Thailand. Empirical Software Engineering, 29(3), 90. DOI: 10.1007/s10664-024-10472-6
Sabando-Vera, D., Yonfa-Medranda, M., Montalván-Burbano, N., Albors-Garrigos, J., & Parrales-Guerrero, K. (2022). Worldwide research on open innovation in SMEs. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 8(1), 20. DOI: 10.3390/joitmc8010020
Santos, R. B. M. D., Figueiredo, P. S., & Marques, F. T. (2023). Challenges to agile software project management practices in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gestão & Produção, 30, e9722. DOI: 10.1590/1806-9649-2022v29e9722
Sommerville, I. (2020). Software engineering (10th ed.). Pearson Education.
Stojanov, Z. (2022, June). Software Maintenance Management in Micro Software Companies. Southeast European Review of Business and Economics, 3(1), 75–92. DOI: 10.20544/SERBE.05.01.22.P05
Suárez, D. R., & León, G. (2019). Las PyME de desarrollo de software. Modelos de mejora de sus procesos en Latinoamérica. Revista Espacios, 40(28), 9.
Published
2025-05-12
How to Cite
PORTELA-PEÑÚÑURI, Luis T..
Integrating ISO/IEC 29110 into Agile Workflows: A Practical Intervention Strategy for Very Small Entities. In: IBERO-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ON SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (CIBSE), 28. , 2025, Ciudad Real/Espanha.
Anais [...].
Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação,
2025
.
p. 328-335.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/cibse.2025.35320.
