CMMI 100 Success Secrets

Transcription

1 CMMI 100 Success Secrets Capability Maturity Model Integration 100 Success Secrets Most Asked Questions: The Missing CMMI-DEV, CMMI-ACQ Project Management and Process Guide Lance Batten

2 CMMI 100 Success Secrets Copyright 2008 Notice of rights All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Notice of Liability The information in this book is distributed on an As Is basis without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the author nor the publisher shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this book or by the products described in it. Trademarks Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and the publisher was aware of a trademark claim, the designations appear as requested by the owner of the trademark. All other product names and services identified throughout this book are used in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies with no intention of infringement of the trademark. No such use, or the use of any trade name, is intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with this book.

3 CMMI 100 Success Secrets There has never been an CMMI Guide like this. 100 Success Secrets is not about the ins and outs of CMMI. Instead, it answers the top 100 questions that we are asked and those we come across in forums, our consultancy and education programs. It tells you exactly how to deal with those questions, with tips that have never before been offered in print. This book is also not about CMMI s best practice and standards details. Instead, it introduces everything you want to know to be successful with CMMI.

4 Table of Contents CMM and Its Level...9 All about Capability Maturity Model for Software...11 The Integration of the CMMs...13 Capability Maturity Model or CMM: Understanding the Fundamental Structure...15 Cisco CMM Level...17 CMI PPT Presenting CMMI as a Good Investment...18 The Evolution of the CMM...20 To Be on CMM Level Calibrating the CMM...22 The Old CMM and the New CMMI...23 Find it at CMM.com...25 Attendance to a CMM Conference or Workshop...26 CMM Defined Level on Coordination...28 CMM Engineering and Its Roles...29 The Need for a CMM Inspection...31 The Role of the CMM Inspection Service...32 What a CMM Inspector Does?...33 ISO and CMM Differentiated...35 CMM Jobs for IT Professionals...37 The 5 Levels of CMM...39

5 CMM Level 5 Optimized Approach for Process Improvement The Five Levels of CMM Doing CMM Measurement and Analysis Right The Need for CMM Measuring Capability Maturity Model (CMM) What does it mean? Sad News CMM Misconceptions CMMI Online Evaluating Process Improvement Models for Your Organization The Organization Where the CMM Evolved The Structure of the CMM Process CMM Programmer A Major Player in Software Development58 The CMM as Discuss in the Wiki Bridging the Perfect Solutions thru CMM Accountancy CMM Accuracy Definition of the Best CMM Process The Definition of CMM Airlines The Difference between the CMM and CMMI Different Tasks of CMM Architects The Process for CMM Assessment The Levels of CMM Certification What is the CMM Definition? The Essence of Different CMM Events The Spirit of CMM Forum Finding a CMM Group... 79

6 The Basics of CMMI...80 The Basics of CMMI Appraisal...82 CMMI Assessment Key Indicators...83 Ways to Conduct CMMI Assessments...84 CMMI Certification: Do You Really Need It?...86 Some reasons why companies adopt CMMI...88 CMMI Compliance: Ensuring Quality Corporate Performance 90 The Advantage of Attending CMMI Conference...92 Understanding the Elements of CMMI Configuration Management...94 CMMI Consulting Firms: Providing Vital Help for Companies.96 Area Specific CMMI: The Continuous Approach...98 Understanding CMMI framework...99 Two Most Common Approaches in CMMI Implementation CMMI vs. ITIL: Knowing What to Choose CMMI maturity level: define Features of CMMI Level 1 Organizations What is a CMMI level 3? Some important notes on CMMI Level Defining the Different CMMI Levels How to Select an Appropriate CMMI Model CMMI Overview: A Quick Peek at CMMI How CMMI Process Areas are evaluated? CMMI Processes - Achieving Goals and Best Practices...117

7 CMMI Process Improvement - Maximize Resources and Eliminate Mistakes CMMI Project: Keys to Success of CMMI Implementation CMMI Project Management System: Optimizing Corporate Project Management Models CMMI Project Management System: Optimizing Corporate Project Management Models Understanding the CMMI Quality Systems Understanding the Steps Involved in CMMI SCAMPI The Benefits of CMMI Software CMMI Staged Representation: Providing a Window for CMMI Implementation SEI-CMMI: Some standards, procedures, and policies accounted CMMI Training: Improving the Skills of Management Professionals The Significance of CMM KPA for the Assessment CMM Level 1: When Process Inconsistency Is the Problem CMM Level 2: Where Processes and Successes Start to Be Replicated The Transformation to CMM Level CMM Level 4: When Quantitative Goals Are Set and Met CMM Level 5 Companies: Those Who Achieve Their Quantitative Process Improvement Goals

8 CMM Mailing: Getting the Messages Across The CMM Maturity Levels Companies Must Go Through CMM National Security Agency Way Understanding what CMM Programming Is CMM Quality Benchmark CMM Recruitment Booms as the Model Gains Notice CMM Sales to go Up with CMM Implementation CMM vendors or providers: Types of service offered CMM Services and their Nature Characteristics of an Effective CMM Software Achieving the Best Results thru CMM Training CMM vs. CMMI: Understanding both ends Understanding the difference between CMM and CMMI Introduction to CMMI: Going Back to the Basics of CMMI Intro to CMMI: Why is Important to Understand the Basics of CMMI? ISO CMMI Model: Creating a Synergy to Improve the Business Process What is People CMM? Understanding the Underlying Facts about SEI CMM SEI CMMI: Trailblazing the Way towards Technological Development What is CMM: Looking at its Evolution...182

9 9 CMM and Its Level One way of ensuring that software companies are capable of delivering service with quality is by knowing the maturity level of their organization. A maturity level is based on the capability of software developers in their ability to develop software. Software companies follow a standard of process in the development, testing and software application; and rules for appearance of final program code, components, interfaces, etc. These standards are applied using the Capability Maturity Model (CMM). The CMM is the model of process maturity for software development. The CMM has 5 levels, which are defined based on process capability. The model shows the organizational maturity of software developers as it moves to next level towards a disciplined, measured, and continuously improving software process. The levels are the following: 1. Initial level. The development of quality software depends entirely on the manager s personal approach and the programmers experience. This means that a project s success can be repeated by same set of managers and programmers. 2. Repeatable level. The project planning and management is based on experience earned in the past. This level may have tendency to roll back on initial level. 3. Defined level. The standards for the processes of software development and maintenance are introduced and documented (including project management) under this level. 4. Managed level. Quantitative indices (for both software and process as a whole) established in the organization. 5. Optimizing level. Improvement procedures are carried out both involving processing and evaluation of new technologies introduce.

10 10 It is important that software developers are able to deliver the service as required on time. After all, it is just fair that companies gets their money s worth.

11 11 All about Capability Maturity Model for Software The Capability Maturity Model for Software (SW-CMM) was the first improvement model developed by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI). It was created to address the need for the Department of Defense software projects in determining who should win the bids other than being the lowest bidder. At first, the CMM questionnaire was used to measure the software developer/contractor s capability of producing the quality software systems. It was also the software developer s way of selfassessing their internal process improvement. The SW-CMM provided guidelines towards software process improvement. It was used as a reference model of mature practices in assessing a group s ability to perform the discipline. It provided guidance to organization on how to gain control of their processes in the development and software maintenance, work within the culture of software engineering and excellent management. It was designed in such a way that software organizations may be guided in selecting the process improvement strategies by establishing the current process maturity and identifying some issues that are critical to software quality and process improvement. The SW-CMM is based on recommended practices acquired from software-process assessments and feedbacks from both industry and government. The SW-CMM has 5 maturity levels. The levels are Level 1 (Initial), Level 2 (Repeatable), Level 3 (Defined), Level 4 (Managed) and Level 5 (Optimizing). Each maturity level defines the level of process capability. Each level consists of set of process goals. An establishment of a different component in the software

12 12 process under each level of maturity results to an increase in the organization s process capability. It should be noted that SW-CMM is a guide a model, it is not suppose to be dictatorial. Your process work improvement depends entirely on your decision subject to recommended best practices.

13 13 The Integration of the CMMs The Capability Maturity Model for Software known as the CMM and SW-CMM has been replaced by SEI with Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). The CMMI was introduced to sort out the issues in the use of multiple CMMs. CMMI combined the three source models namely; Capability Maturity Model for Software (SW-CMM) v2.0 draft C, the Systems Engineering Capability Model (SECM), the Integrated Product Development Capability Maturity Model (IPD-CMM) v0.98 The CMMI is a process improvement approach that gives organizations the essential elements of effective processes. The process improvement can be used across a project, a division, or an entire organization. It helps the integration of traditionally separate organizational functions, set process improvement goals and priorities. The CMMI aids in guiding the quality processes, and provide a reference point for appraising current processes. The CMMI models are based on CMMI best practices which are published to address different area of interest. The two areas of interest that cover the CMMI models are Development and Acquisition. CMMI Version 1.2 is the current release models and it has two versions. These versions are the CMMI for Development (CMMI-DEV), Version 1.2 which seeks to address product and service development processes and CMMI for Acquisition (CMMI-ACQ), Version 1.2 which seeks to address supply chain management, acquisition, and outsourcing processes in government and industry. It is for the organization to choose which model that appropriately applies to their business objectives. Software organizations cannot be CMMI certified. However, they can be appraised and be awarded a 1-5 level rating. The rating results of

14 14 which can be published should the organization appraised feels like it.

15 15 Capability Maturity Model or CMM: Understanding the Fundamental Structure The Capability Maturity Model may be a complex process to understand with satisfaction but successfully engaging with and eventually adapting it in an organization will surely entail great success. A neophyte in the use of the CMM should have a basic understanding about what makes up the whole structure of the maturity model. In proper spectrum, what sort of aspects should be clearly defined and understood? Below are some of the aspects of Capability Maturity Model or CMM: First, you will need to understand the Maturity Levels that make-up the whole process of CMM. This is usually contained in a five-level structure. These levels are geared towards the fulfillment of each level to attain optimized process in improving every activity in the organization. Second, you will need to comprehend the areas in the organization that act as key process. The KPA or the key process area is used as an identifier to determine the group-related events in an organization. Having that determined will lead towards attaining a group of objectives that play a vital role in the totality of the organization. Third, you will need to understand and know your objectives or goals. These goals will delimit your key process area. By having this done, you do not only conserve your organizational resources but also makes an efficient utility of all your resources. Lastly, there should be proper identification of the key practice in an organization. These practices will bear great

16 16 impact in contributing to the efficient execution of the key process in the organization.

17 17 Cisco CMM Level Software organizations to be highly competitive should be able to show their capability of delivering the work product on time. Most business transactions during these modern times are done over the internet. Customers use the search engine to search for information they want to know. Purchases and payments can be done over the internet. A search of a product or service would bring up several websites of companies offering the product or service. You need to have your website work so you do not lose your customer. Customers will probably get angry if payments were made and it would not show on your website. Now, you need to rethink and find a software developer that can help you at least make your website or the change of system maybe best thing to do. To find a software developer capable of delivering the software development to your website would mean looking into the level of maturity of the organization. One of the service provider and software developer who can provide you with this need is Cisco. Cisco offers hardware, software and service that create internet solutions whether in business, government, education etc. They have trained programmers and engineers considered the best in process development. They design systems in business processes that helped many companies in their business ventures. The Cisco CMM has a high rating of maturity, as it continues to improve their process based on quantitative feedback and pilot of new ideas and technologies both from customers and staff as well. Cisco products are worth your spending.

18 18 CMI PPT Presenting CMMI as a Good Investment If a company finds itself under-utilizing its resources, lacking in productivity, taking out more waste than ever, repeating the same mistakes over and over again, and just needing a major overhaul, it's time for it to look at its processes and check if they are not working efficiently by themselves and with each other. Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is an approach that an organization can implement in situations like the one described above. CMMI is a method that is focused on providing an organization the needed components to covert ineffective processes to efficient ones. Of course, people who are not familiar with CMMI may like the idea behind it, but may not completely buy into the idea without a little more explanation. Therefore, it's important to present CMMI to the company in a simple and straightforward manner. One good way to do that is to make a PowerPoint presentation that explains what CMMI is, its purpose, how it works, and the benefits of implementing it. It's also important for the presenter to discuss the four main process area categories and the 22 process areas that make up CMMI. Using actual data measuring success rates of other companies who used CMMI is also a good thing to add in the presentation. The company needs to understand that their expense in implementing CMMI is actually an investment, and

19 19 the ROI is much more profitable for the company in the long run. This is perhaps the most important aspect. A company is a business, and business is always centered on making good investments. CMMI should be presented as an investment that will pay off consistently and continuously.