This book is chock-full of accumulated knowledge, collective wisdom, and engineering best practices about what makes systems development successful. The incremental commitment spiral model (ICSM) extends and uses Boehm’s earlier conceptualization of software development as a spiral [1]. A key strength of the spiral model and ICSM is the ongoing assessment and consideration of risk.

The book is comprised of four parts and three appendices. Part 1 defines the four principles of ICSM:

(1) stakeholder value-based guidance;

(2) incremental commitment and accountability;

(3) concurrent multidiscipline engineering; and

(4) evidence- and risk-based decisions.

Part 2 describes the whole ICSM life cycle and stage 1, incremental definition. ICSM has two stages with five life cycle phases. Each phase concludes with a risk-based stakeholder commitment review point. The principles guide practice. Part 3 elaborates on stage 2, incremental development and evolution. Part 4 recommends how to apply ICSM in your organization to change your processes.

Appendix A contains an evidence evaluation framework. Appendix B maps ICSM to other standards, like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the PMBOK guide [2], and the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), and Appendix C presents a value-based theory of systems engineering. Additionally, the inside front cover presents a phased view of ICSM and the inside back cover is a table of common case examples.

ICSM should pair well with the GQM⁺Strategies approach [3]. GQM⁺Strategies can provide the big picture of a portfolio of systems development projects intended to achieve measurable organizational goals.

This book on ICSM should be at the top of the reading list for software managers, business analysts, and systems engineers working on complex systems development efforts. Practicing with ICSM should increase the likelihood of success.

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