Ubiquitous process engineering: Applying software process technology to other domains

Software engineering has learned a great deal about how to create clear and precise process definitions, and how to use them to improve final software products. This paper suggests that this knowledge can also be applied to good effect in many other domains where effective application of process technology can lead to superior products and outcomes. The paper offers medical practice and government as two examples of such domains, and indicates how process technology, first developed for application to software development, is being applied with notable success in those areas of endeavor. The paper also notes that some characteristics of these domains are highlighting ways in which current process technology seems to be inadequate, thereby suggesting ways in which this research is adding to the agenda for research in software process.