Interpreting the CMMI (R): A Process Improvement Approach, Second Edition

Moving from Maturity Level 1 to Level 2

The biggest hurdle that most organizations face when embarking on the journey from an immature organization to a more mature one is the jump from Maturity Level 1 to Maturity Level 2. Maturity Level 1 is characterized by ad hoc processes; that is, processes that the people doing the work have created themselves in order to accomplish their tasks . The problem with this method is that redundant work is often done, people do not share their methods across the organization, and some approaches are in opposition to actually making the organization run more effectively. While some individual approaches may work for that individual, that person's approach may actually conflict with work being done downstream. The results are more rework , delays, and frustration. Turf wars are common, and the organization functions due to the heroics of its people. When these people move on (or burn out), the organization suffers.

Maturity Level 2 is characterized by individuals sharing their lessons learned and best practices; and devising preliminary processes that will function at the project level and, in some cases, across the organization as a whole. Maturity Level 2 focuses on management issues that affect normal, day-to-day work routines. Maturity Level 2 consists of seven process areas (PAs) that contribute to project management efficiencies.

1. Requirements Management

2. Project Planning

3. Project Monitoring and Control

4. Supplier Agreement Management

5. Measurement and Analysis

6. Process and Product Quality Assurance

7. Configuration Management

Each PA has specific goals (specific to that process area) and generic goals that are applied to every PA in that Maturity Level. Generic goals for Maturity Level 2 are listed below. These goals lead to institutionalizing the PA; that is, when an organization ensures that these goals are practiced consistently across the organization, the PA associated with these goals will continue to be applied appropriately in the organization even after those who created the procedures for this area have left. The generic goals and their corresponding generic practices and Common Features for Maturity Level 2 are:

• Generic Goal 2: Institutionalize a Managed Process

  • Generic Practice 2.1 (Commitment 1): Establish an organizational policy

  • Generic Practice 2.2 (Ability 1): Plan the process

  • Generic Practice 2.3 (Ability 2): Provide resources

  • Generic Practice 2.4 (Ability 3): Assign responsibility

  • Generic Practice 2.5 (Ability 4): Train people

  • Generic Practice 2.6 (Directing Implementation 1): Manage configurations

  • Generic Practice 2.7 (Directing Implementation 2): Identify and involve relevant stakeholders

  • Generic Practice 2.8 (Directing Implementation 3): Monitor and control the process

  • Generic Practice 2.9 (Verifying Implementation 1): Objectively evaluate adherence

  • Generic Practice 2.10 (Verifying Implementation 2): Review status with higher-level management

Each process area has specific and generic goals. Both types of goals must be satisfied to successfully achieve the benefits of process improvement for that PA. Each PA is described below. We begin by describing the purpose of the PA (directly from the CMMI), listing specific goals for the PA by goal label, discussing anything interesting or unusual about the PA, and then summarizing the PA.