What is Service System Transition (SST) in context of CMMI for Services?

CMMI FAQ 0

14th August, 2013

Service System Transition (SST) process helps in the development of a strategy for Transition of new services from the Development to Production stage.

The purpose of Service System Transition (SST) is to deploy new or significantly changed service system components while managing their effect on ongoing service delivery.

How to implement Service System Transition (SST) as per CMMI:

Steps for implementing Service System Transition (SST) in projects are as follows:

• Development of Service System Transition Plan. For each transition of the service system, a Service System Transition plan shall be established., identifying the following: 
  • Service system components ready for transition
  • Deployment type (e.g., new, replacement, retirement)
  • Acquisition approach
  • Installation and integration of service system components within the delivery environment
  • Identification and resolution of warranty considerations
  • Phasing of deployment over time that satisfies operational dependencies between service system components
  • Deployment acceptance criteria
  • Resource constraints and restrictions
  • Initial provisioning of consumables
  • Rollback (or back-out) procedures to “undo” the transition and restore the delivery environment to its former stable operating status
  • Training of service delivery and support staff
  • Communication of transition status and service changes to relevant stakeholders
• Prepare Stakeholders for Changes. Relevant stakeholders should be communicated and prepared for the new or modified service system components, so that their preparedness does not affect the service system.
  Relevant stakeholders should include customers, end users, provider staff, senior management, external suppliers, and anyone else that should be aware of expected changes.
• Service System Components Deployment. Service system components shall be deployed into the delivery environment based on transition plan.
  Organization shall ensure that service system components to be deployed are placed under configuration control as appropriate, installation of the service system into the delivery environment. And that service system components in the delivery environment has been validated.
• Assess and Control the Impacts of the Transition. Once deployed, impacts of the transition shall be assessed on stakeholders and service delivery should be conducted, and appropriate corrective action should be taken.
  Data for the new system changes should be collected (over a period of time) from the customers, end-users and/or relative stakeholders using different techniques like surveys, comment box, web forms.
  Unanticipated impacts shall be addressed in a timely manner and as detailed in the tactical plan for transition. These should be communicated proactively through different means of communication. Back-out plans shall be implemented as needed based on adverse system impacts.
  Continue to assess and control impacts until deployment issues are resolved. Also conduct a post-deployment review.

Source: CMMI-SVC Model, CMMI Institute. Interpretation by the author.

Benefits of Service System Transition (SST) in the organization

Service System Transition (SST) when conducted in the organization has following benefits:

• Better Planning and Management of Service System Transition
• Proactive communication to relevant stakeholders
• Better control over the impact of the transition
• Makes it easy to improve services by updating or replacing with new service components

Want implementation guidance for Service System Transition (SST) in your organization

DQS India, CMMI Authorised Partner, provides Service System Transition (SST) implementation guidance to organization worldwide. We provide training for internal staff for leading successful transition of services in the organization. Training includes topic like transition planning, requirements for transition, validation of successful transition, preparing stakeholders for changes using different communication means, deployment techniques for services systems, managing impact of transition etc.

Training is delivered through highly qualified and experienced CMMI Authorised Trainer and CMMI Consultants.