What is Capability Maturity Model Integration® (CMMI®)?
Capability Maturity
Model Integration® (CMMI) is a process
improvement approach developed by the Software Engineering
InstituteSM. The CMMI® framework
provides organizations with the essential elements of
effective processes that can be used to guide process
improvement across a project, a division, or an entire
organization. CMMI® helps integrate traditionally
separate organizational functions, set process improvement
goals and priorities, provide guidance for quality processes,
and provide a point of reference for appraising current
processes.
Benefits of CMMI®
Implementation of
CMMI® helps the organizations to improve
their performance and meet their business objectives.
Being appraised (also known as certified) is a prerequisite
to bidding on many Federal Agency projects.
Organizations implementing the CMMI®
have realized benefits in many of the following categories:
- Improved schedule and budget predictability
- Improved cycle time
- Increased productivity
- Improved quality (as measured by defects)
- Increased customer satisfaction
- Improved employee morale
- Increased return on investment
- Decreased cost of quality
How APS can help?
APS has devised a proven
10-step methodology to help organizations attain desired
levels of organizational maturity and process capability.
An optimal mix of services from the following 10 steps
is logically and carefully sequenced to maximize the
benefits of implementing the CMMI®. The
10 steps are as follows:
Initiate Process Improvement
An APS Lead Assessor will
kick-start the process improvement initiative in the
client's organization by understanding and aligning
the process improvement objectives with their business
objectives.
Perform Gap Analysis
APS will conduct a gap analysis
to gain an understanding of the current processes and
will produce a detailed report highlighting the degree
to which the organization exhibits the CMMI®practices.
This exercise will lead to a very precise estimate of
what needs to be done to improve the Client's processes
to attain the desired level of maturity.
Develop Infrastructure
APS will work with
the client's organization to develop an infrastructure
to support their process improvement initiative, which
may include the following:
- Engineering Process Group,
- Process Quality Assurance Group,
- Tools Group
and facilitate evolution
of charters for these groups.
Define Process Assets
Process assets are the collection of reusable Procedures, Standards, Guidelines, Templates and Checklists that are developed by the organization to achieve repeatability and operational excellence across the organization.
APS will help organizations to identify the best practices within their organization and from the industry, and assist in creation of process assets.
Provide Role Based Training
APS will provide role-based training to project teams to increase proficiency of the team and contribute to the project success. Please refer to APS Training offerings.
Assist Institutionalization
Implementing processes within an organization involves cultural changes. APS team members are experienced 'Change Agents' who have successfully implemented defined processes in projects of various sizes and complexity in different domains and knowledge areas.
APS change agents train, educate, and mentor the client's project team members and help the client's organization to implement the processes and institutionalize them.
Conduct Mini-Appraisal
The major focus of
the Mini-Appraisal is to evaluate the extent to which
the organization's process documentation and practices
satisfy the key practices of CMMI®.
The Mini-Appraisal is also used to measure the progress
and readiness of the organization before planning for
a SCAMPISM Appraisal.
Prepare for Formal Appraisal
APS will conduct a workshop for the client's project team(s) in creating the PIIDs (Process Implementation Indicator Descriptions) that are required for formal appraisals. PIIDs are a collection of objective evidence that demonstrates the implementation of CMMI® practices.
Conduct Formal Appraisal
APS is a Partner of
Software Engineering Institute (SEISM) and
licensed to provide SCAMPISM (Standard CMMI®
Appraisal Method for Process Improvement) Appraisal
services globally. The SCAMPISM helps an
organization to gain insight into its process capability
or organizational maturity by identifying strengths
and weaknesses of its current processes relative to
the CMMI®.
A SCAMPISM Appraisal determines the maturity of an organization's
processes. It may also serve as a catalyst for initiating
a continuous process improvement program.
Support Maintenance & Sustenance
Continuing to maintain process
capability and organizational maturity requires constant
and focused efforts such as refresher training, mentoring
of new employees. APS provides cost-effective solutions
that are tailored to meet the client's needs. |
