Process Improvement with CMMI

The third tip is closely related to Tip #2.  After you identify the area(s) for improvement, you then need to lay out the roadmap of where you want to go.  This activity should begin with an analysis of your business' goals and objectives.  Then answer this question, "What are the expected outcomes of the process improvement effort, and how do they help achieve the business' goals and objectives?"  After you answer this question, you should develop your process improvement plan and prepare to get down to work!

"Know where you are" is the second tip for a successful process improvement effort.  In other words, you need to identify the area(s) in your process implementation where the "weaknesses" or "opportunities for improvement" exist.  The way to do this is to have a gap analysis or appraisal performed.  Once you get the results of the analysis or appraisal, you have a good idea of where to start, the area(s) to focus on.

Today, I'm beginning "Tips for Success," things you should do if you want to move forward successfully with your process improvement (PI) effort.  The first tip discusses something that is critical:  senior management commitment.

Before doing anything else, secure a sponsor - a senior manager within your organization who is committed to the PI effort.  His/Her commitment will be evident in the assignment of a dedicated PI manager (maybe it's you!), the number of resources (i.e., people, tools, facilities, etc.) he/she will make available for the effort, the amount of funding for the effort, how he/she promotes the effort within the organization (i.e., "work on it when you have time" or "this is a top priority"), and the level of access that the PI manager will have to the sponsor.

If these things are not evident in the first senior manager you talk to, keep looking!  You will not get very far without them!

If you like planning ahead, information on the SEPG North America 2012 conference is available on the SEI's website at http://www.sei.cmu.edu/sepg/na/2012/budgeting-and-planning.cfmv.  The conference theme is "Reaching New Levels of Excellence," and it is scheduled for March 12 - 15, 2012 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Registration opens in December 2011.  This is an annual conference where you can get a wealth of information on CMMI and process improvement (the tutorials and other presentations are great!) and network with other PI professionals.

I received this info from the SEI last week:

For CMMI products, the sunset date is the point at which the product is no longer valid for use in appraisals or delivery of training courses.  The sunset date of English versions typically allows one year for users to upgrade to a newer CMMI product.  The sunset date of SEI-sanctioned foreign translations, though, is extended an additional six months to allow for the development of foreign translations after the English release.

SEI-sanctioned translations of v1.2 models and training course materials will sunset May 31, 2012.

The sunset date of the SCAMPI Method Definition Document (MDD) v1.2 is March 31, 2012.  Since there have been no translations of the SCAMPI MDD, after March 31 all appraisals (including those using SEI-sanctioned translations of CMMI models) must use the SCAMPI MDD v1.3.  Therefore, appraisals that use an SEI-sanctioned translation of a v1.2 model and the  SCAMPI MDD v1.2 must have an on-site period beginning before March 31, 2012 and appraisals that use an SEI-sanctioned translation of a v1.2 model and the SCAMPI MDD v1.3 must have an on-site period beginning before May 31, 2012.  All appraisals are valid for three years.

After May 31, 2012, an organization seeking to use an SEI-sanctioned foreign translation of a v1.2 model in an appraisal must request and receive approval for an extension prior to the event for the appraisal to be accepted by the SEI.

So the bottom line is . . . discuss this well in advance with your Lead Appraiser if this is an issue for you!

In addition to what I posted yesterday, the Method Definition Document (MDD) says, "The sponsor of the appraisal shall not be an appraisal team member.  A senior manager who has supervisory authority over the entire organizational unit shall not be an appraisal team member." (See MDD Section 1.3.2)

I am often asked questions about the SCAMPI appraisal team (e.g., How many people have to be on the team?, What training does an appraisal team member need?, etc.).  You can find the answer to these questions and more in the "Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI) A, Version 1.3: Method Definition Document" on the Software Engineering Institute's website at http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/11hb001.cfm?DCSext.abstractsource=SearchResultsv. This document states that the minimum acceptable team size for a SCAMPI A appraisal is four (4) people (including the appraisal team leader), and each team member must have taken the Introduction to CMMI course and appraisal team training.  Experience is also considered when selecting team members.

One of the things you see when you read the CMMI practices is "Example Work Products."  That's exactly what they are - examples.  When you implement a model practice, the resultant work product that your organization produces may be one of those that the model identifies as an example or it may be something similar.  The question to ask is not have you produced the exact work product identified for the practice, but have you produced a work product that demonstrates that you have performed the practice.  The "Example Work Products" give you an idea of the kinds of work products that your organization may produce.

If you are looking for a configuration management (CM) tool, you may be a bit overwhelmed.  There are lots of tools to choose from!  You should first make a list of the tool features that you want/need.  (Hint:  A good place to start is to look at CMMI specific practices of the Configuration Management process area; your tool should help you implement these practices!)  After you have your list, look at the features each tool offers. (Yes, they are different!)  Most CM tool vendors have websites and may even provide online demos and free trials so you can test drive the tool before buying it. See the link on this page for a short list of tools that are commonly used.

In CMMI v1.3, Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) is no longer a model addition  to be used if you have integrated teams in your organization. The IPPD specific goals of v1.2 in Integrated Project Management and Organizational Process Definition have been deleted, and in v1.3 the concept of "teams" has been incorporated into new specific practices in these process areas.  So . . . during an appraisal (ML3 and above), the appraisal team will be looking to see how your organization has implemented these practices.