29th July, 2014
CMMI® is the structured collection of best-practices that provides guidelines in building up excellent software applications, products and systems. It has endured the test of time and is there with us since last 25 years now. The organization implementing CMMI® has to decide the relevant CMMI® Model i.e. DEV or SVC or ACQ. Typical duration required for CMMI® Implementation Program varies from one organization to the other – it may be 09 months, 12 months, 15 months or 24 months, or somewhere in between these time frames. Some large organizations work with a time frame of 24 to 60 months and plan their journey over the various Maturity Levels of CMMI®. The cost depends on the organization-size and the vendor you select. Typically, the first step is to identify the scope (boundary) of Appraisal Program – i.e., which areas/functions/products of the organization we have to cover – this is called the Organizational Unit (OU) under the Appraisal. Once we have done this we may like to take or call for professional CMMI®ConsultingServices. CMMI®Consulting Services, from facilitation perspective, include (a) Gap Assessment (b) Action Planning or Process Improvement Action Plan (c) Process-Definition (e) Process Implementation (f) Competence Build-up or Training Services (g) Metrics Management, etc.
Gap-Assessment or AS-IS Assessment Services, as a part of CMMI®Consulting Services include the Introduction and Identification of Projects, QMS (PAL) Process Gap Identification, Existing QMS (PAL) Mapping with CMMI®Requirements, Project Gap Assessment, Existing Project Artifact Implementation Evidence Mapping with CMMI®Requirements. Process Improvement Action Plan is an output of Gap-Assessment or AS-IS Assessment. It defines the milestones for the future CMMI® Implementation Program. Process-Definition is the very sensitive stage in CMMI® Consulting Services. It is the stage where the risk is highest for the CMMI® Implementation Program to fail or get stuck. Hence this stage has to be steered intelligently by using innovative methods and creating buy-ins at all levels. Process-Implementation is an easier task if the Process-Definition activity is done with buy-ins at all levels. Competence building up by training or personnel certification like certified software process manager (CSPM) certification programs help in facilitation of Process Definition and Process Implementation. Metrics Management is an activity that has to run in parallel with Process Implementation. It provides a mirror to the entire process and is driven by a Goal Question Metrics. Activities like CMMI® based Documentation Assessment, CMMI® based Implementation Assessment, SCAMPI B and SCAMPI A Assessments against the target CMMI Maturity Level are the Assessment or Evaluation milestones during a CMMI Consulting Services Program Obviously, CMMI Consulting Services is a nuanced activity and covers a vast body of knowledge.
Note: CMMI® is the registered trademark of Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University USA.
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Rajendra's LinkedIn Profile
Rajendra is a qualified and certified Lead Appraiser and Instructor for the following :
Rajendra is Lead Assessor for ISO 9001 (QMS), ISO 14001 (EMS), OHSAS 18001 (OHSMS) since 1994
International Automotive Task Force (IATF) approved Lead Assessor for Automotive Standard TS 16949:2009
Lead Assessor for ISO 27001 (ISMS) and ISO 20000-1 (ITSM)
Rajendra has 25 years experience in the industry.