  Assessing processes is one of the best ways for an organization to start a
software process improvement program. An alternative for organizations seeking
for lighter assessments methods is to perform self-assessments, which can be
carried out by an organization to assess its own process. In this context, the
question that arises is which software process self-assessment methods exist
and which kind of support they provide? To answer this question, a mapping
study on software process self-assessment methods was performed. As result, a
total of 33 methods were identified and analyzed, synthesizing information on
their measurement framework, process reference model and assessment process. We
observed that most self-assessment methods are based on consolidated models,
such as CMMI or ISO/IEC 15504 with a trend to develop self-assessment methods
specifically for SMEs. In general, they use simplified assessment processes,
focusing on data collection and analysis. Most of the methods propose to
collect data through questionnaires that are answered by managers or other team
members related to the process being assessed. However, we noted a lack of
information on how most of the assessment methods (AMs) have been developed and
validated, which leaves their validity questionable. The results of our study
may help practitioners, interested in conducting software process
self-assessments, to choose a self-assessment method. This research is also
relevant for researchers, as it provides a better understanding of the existing
self-assessment methods and their strengths and weaknesses.
