Here is an interesting checklist that can help you determine how effectively and how efficiently your organization is executing. The answer can obviously scale by size the size of your organization. This list is not in any order and is by no means complete but it is a good start for any sized organization.
Are test developers separate from test executers?
Do code developers develop automated unit tests?
Is functional test greater than 70% complete against absolute best?
Is integration test greater than 70% complete against absolute best?
Are there clear owners for each release/project?
Do you have proposal phase?
Do you do a proposal phase actual signoff?
Do you have a definition phase?
Do you do a definition phase actual signoff?
Are there preliminary product requirements in the proposal phase?
Are there rough engineering estimates in the proposal phase?
Is there a target release date in the proposal phase?
Are there complete product requirements in the definition phase?
Is there preliminary engineering (functional/design) specifications in the definition phase?
Is a criteria document (beyond no critical bugs) defined in the definition phase?
Are there committed detailed schedules in definition phase?
Is the more than 90% of testing automated?
Can you do a full test cycle in less than 7 days (except duration)?
Can and do code developers run an automated test suite before checkin?
Is there a 12 hour representative test (full function, representative integration)?
Do you require full functional/design specifications before checkin?
Do you require full unit test pass before code complete?
Do you have predictable releases?
Do you require code reviews before checkin?
Do you do nightly builds and pass your 12 hour test?
Do you allow adequate time in integration achieve 90% of the criteria document before release?
Do changes in the release plan require signoff and revised schedules?
Do you have at least 75% confidence in all of your schedules?
The more of these questions you can answer "yes" to, the more effective your team will be.
More later ...
