CMMi

• What is CMMi?

• Basic terms

• Levels

• Common Features

• Assessment process

• List of KPAs for each level

CMMi - Introduction• CMMi – Capability Maturity Model Integrated• A set of best practices, organized under different

key process areas• Software Engineering Institute (SEI) of Carnegie

Mellon University (CMU) and US Department of Defense (DoD) did an elaborate study in many top software and hardware companies

• They compiled the best processes that yielded good results in all these companies

• That has become a rule book for others to follow• This can be used as a scale to measure the

process capabilities of a company

CMMi - Introduction

• CMM was initially introduced• CMM had gaps in areas of electronic/hardware

processes, systems engineering, supplier processes, team processes with respect to software processes

• Hence CMM was improved to bridge these gaps and the new process was called CMMi

• CMMi has got 2 variations – staged and continuous

Basic Terms• KPA – key process area

– A set of related activities, events and deliverables. A group or department may take the main responsibility

• CG – common goal– A generic aim to be achieved

• GP – generic practice– A generic set of activities to be followed

• SG – specific goal– A specific aim to be achieved within the KPA

• SP – specific practice– A specific set of activities within the KPA to be followed

• AB – ability– What enables to carry out the activity

• VE – verification– How to ensure the KPA is followed well

• DI – directing implementation– Reviewing status with management, maintaining documents

• CO – commitment– What are the commitments the management need to provide to implement the

KPA

Framework Architecture

to Perform

Maturity Levels

Generic Practices

Generic Goals

Process Area 2

Common Features

Process Area 1 Process Area n

AbilityImplementation

Verifyingto Perform

Commitment DirectingImplementation

Specific Goals

Implementation

Specific Practices

to Perform

Maturity Levels

Generic Practices

Generic Goals

Process Area 2

Common Features

Process Area 1 Process Area n

AbilityImplementation

Verifyingto Perform

Commitment DirectingImplementation

Specific Goals

Implementation

Specific Practices

Levels• L1 – Initial level. Totally adhoc processes. Success

depends on individual capabilities of people• L2 – Managed. Project level processes are established.

Requirements are managed. Successful process in a project can be a role model to others. Each project level process may be different

• L3 – Defined. Organizational level processes are established. These are tailored to projects. Consistency is established across the board. All engineering activities are covered.

• L4 – Quantitatively Managed. Every aspect is measured and statistically compared. Predictability of success is high.

• L5 – Optimizing. Continuously measure and improve all processes and variations. Optimize at organization level.

Common Features• Establishing an organizational policy

– At the apex level we need to define a policy to implement the KPA– This is a commitment

• Institutionalize the process– The process must be consistently implemented across the organization– This will increase predictability

• Plan the process– Every process implementation must be planned and tracked

• Provide Resources– Provide human resources, hardware and software resources, necessary tools

• Assign Responsibility– Different stakeholders in the KPA must take specific work areas

• Train People– Educate people on the respective KPAs

• Manage Configurations– All documents and work products must be tracked for versions and approval

levels

Common Features• Monitor and control process

– Ensure the tracking is done at all levels

• Objectively evaluate adherence– Measure adherence and associate numbers

with it across the organization

• Review status with management– Status must be communicated and reviewed

periodically

Stakeholders

• Senior management

• Project Management

• Project members (engineering teams)

• Support groups

• Quality group

• Supplier Management group

• Customer interaction group

Assessment Process• A team of appraisers will be formed along with authorized lead

appraiser (ALA)• The team will undergo training conducted by ALA• A sample set of projects will be taken with all related work products• All documents will be reviewed – every compliant area will be

marked and sticky notes will be attached to the documents• A wall chart is prepared with KPA compliance areas with respect to

quality management documents and project documents• A team of members will be randomly selected from all groups of the

organization• The appraising team will interview all selected members with a lot of

relevant questions to ensure the process knowledge and adherence• Every checklist item will be ensured for adherence• Depending upon the KPAs satisfied by all team members, the

assessment level will be awarded

Process Areas for each Level• Maturity Level 2: Managed

– Requirements Management– Project Planning– Project Monitoring and Control– Supplier Agreement Management– Measurement and Analysis– Process and Product Quality Assurance– Configuration Management

• Maturity Level 3: Defined– Requirements Development– Technical Solution– Product Integration– Verification– Validation– Organizational Process Focus– Organizational Process Definition– Organizational Training– Integrated Project Management for IPPD– Risk Management– Integrated Teaming– Integrated Supplier Management– Decision Analysis and Resolution– Organizational Environment for Integration

• Maturity Level 4: Quantitatively Managed– Organizational Process Performance– Quantitative Project Management

• Maturity Level 5: Optimizing– Organizational Innovation and Deployment– Causal Analysis and Resolution