CMMI

Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement. The SCAMPI process is designed to provide milestone quality ratings in reference to CMMI models. It’s widely applicable to appraisal usage modes, including internal process improvement and also external capability determinations. It satisfies all appraisal requirements for CMMI requirement for Class A appraisal method. It describes requirements, activities, and practices related to processes that make the SCAMPI method. They are often used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current processes, reveal risks. It defines the appraisal process consisting of monitoring in-site activities, preliminary observations, findings & ratings, reporting etc.

The models in CMMI are:

Product and service development (CMMI for Development model)

Service establishment, management, and delivery (CMMI for Services model)

Product and service acquisition (CMMI for Acquisition model)

Development Model: It is inevitable to reach the quality product or service to customer on time. Using CMMI-DEV model, could help enterprises achieve product delivery on-time with high quality, especially the service relies heavily on software. This model is a collection of best practices which an organization follows for dramatically improvement of effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the product.

The benefits that are experienced by the organizations using CMMI-DEV are:

Better customer satisfaction

Increased quality

More accurate schedules

Lower development costs

Substantial return on investment

Improved employee morale and reduced turnover

Services Model: CMMI-SVC is a guide for helping service provider organizations to reduce costs, improve quality and improvement of predictability of schedules. The service providers deserve the development community enjoyed opportunities for years. The service providers are based on community models by practice deserves the opportunity to improve the processes.

CMMI-SVC provides best practices to

Decide the services providing, define services standards

Ensure that they obtain the elements to deliver a quality service, consumables and equipment.

Place the new systems in locations, change the existing systems, and retire obsolete systems.

Handle the elements that goes wrong for preventing from moving wrong in the first place

Acquisition Model: CMMI-ACQ is a best practice model which helps to improve relationships with the suppliers by helping improvisation of own processes. The project control can be increased, global sourcing of products could be better managed, and acquire the solutions which meet the needs of organization. This model is based on CMMI framework, and has 22 process areas, out of which six are acquisition practices specific and sixteen are shared among other CMMI models.

The six process areas that are specific to acquisition practices are

Acquisition Requirements Development (ARD)

Solicitation and Supplier Agreement Development (SSAD)

Agreement Management (AM)

Acquisition Technical Management (ATM)

Acquisition Verification (AVER)

Acquisition Validation (AVAL)

In CMMI models there are six capability levels which are designated by the digits from 0 to 5

Capability Level 0: Incomplete

It is a process which is not performed fully or partially. One or more specific goals of the process area would not be satisfied and generic goals do not exist for this level.

Capability Level 1: Performed

This level is expected for performing all the level specific practices. Stable or non-met specific objectives such as quality, cost, and schedule may not be performed well, but the work done is useful. Something is done but could not prove that it will really work for.

Capability Level 2: Managed

It is a process which is planned, performed, monitored and controlled for individual projects or groups or could be stand-alone processes for achieving a given need. Both the model objectives for the process and other related objectives like cost, schedule and quality are managed in this process. The things that are to be managed in an enterprise are managed actively in this level. There are certain metrics which are to be collected consistently and applied for management approach.

Capability Level 3: Defined

This process is characterized as a “well defined process”. It is referred as a managed process which is tailored for the standards of the organization as per the tailoring guidelines of the organization and the work products, measures and other process related improvement information are contributed.

Capability Level 4: Quantitatively Managed

This process is defined as a process which is properly controlled using statistical and other quantitative techniques. Quality and process performance are established and utilized as the major criteria in process management. The quality of process performance is estimated in statistical terms. This quality is managed throughout the process life cycle.

Capability Level 5: Optimizing

It is a quantitatively managed process which is improved that is based on an understanding the process variation inherent cause in the process. The focus is on continually improving the performance of the process by both incremental and innovative improvements. The target of these processes is activities improvement..

Capability levels are relevant to organization’s process improvement in specific areas. Capability levels in Continuous representations:

Level0 Incomplete: It depicts an incomplete process which does not implement all Capability level1 processes and practices.

Level1 Performed: Process that implements all Capability level1 processes and practices. Some work can be done even though major objectives such as performance are not achieved.

Level2 Managed: They are processes which are planned, managed, performed, monitored, and controlled for specific projects to achieve specific goals.

Level3 Defined: It’s a customized set of standard and managed process for an organization. The processes are tailored a bit as per the organization’s benefit.

Level4 Quantitatively managed: It is a defined process that is managed and controlled using statistical and quantitative methods.

Level5 Optimizing: It’s a quantitatively managed and improved process which is based upon common roots and causes of process variation. Focus is on improving performance of the process using incremental and innovative methods.

The CMMI assessments are based on SCAMPI assessment methods which provide a report on the process improvement efforts. To assess the appraisals, Authorized Lead Appraisers, Authorized High Maturity Lead Appraisers for carrying out CMMI SCAMPI assessments are provided to the organizations.

The CMMI SCAMPI Appraisal is depended upon the need of organization as identified while focusing organizational process. The SCAMPI appraisal planning process is carried out in compliance to SEI Methodology which covers the aspects –

Base-lining of Appraisal Objectives with Appraisal Sponsor

Mapping of Appraisal Objectives with Organizational Objectives

Determination of Focus Projects

Determination of Organizational Representation (Sampling) on Project basis and People-basis

Appraisal Resources and Appraisal Team Strategy

Planning of Appraisal Schedule

Appraisal Output Determination

Appraisal Constraints Determination

Appraisal Risk Management