Thursday, December 14, 2017

A Whole Lotta CMMI Going on for 2018!

Hey, CMMI Appraiser - we are a fast growing Detroit-based engineering supplier to the automotive industry with an agile approach to software development. We recently achieved a CMMI Level 2 and are looking for ways to get our new hires up to speed on using CMMI and Agile together as we grow. What are our options for early 2018? ~ Lucas L. 

Hey, Lucas,

Thanks for submitting your question. Broadsword is offering quite a few opportunities for your new teammates to learn about CMMI, Agile and organizational performance innovation. Below is a slate of upcoming Keynote presentations, training classes and webinars. Check them out!


WEBINARS:

December 15th @2PM – CMMI: Everything You Need to Know!
January 26th @2PM – CMMI: Everything You Need to Know!

TRAINING CLASS:

February 6-9, 2018 in Washington, DC area – Introduction to CMMI-DEV v1.3 with optional 1-day CMMI-SVC supplement

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS:

March 19-20, 2018 in Boston, MA – ASQ BOSCON 2018 Conference
May 24, 2018 in San Antonio, TX – QUEST 2018

As an Agile shop that has become a CMMI-focused organization, Lucas, you will find that these Keynotes, training classes and webinars will give your new hires all the information they need to help address persistent problems, and improve upon what your company is ALREADY doing.

We hope to see your organization represented at one or more of these events!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI training classes and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about engineering strategy, performance innovation, software process improvement and running a successful CMMI program.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

We need CMMI training FAST. Where can we find it in early 2018?

Dear CMMI Appraiser,

Several of us are going to be on a CMMI Appraisal Team, and we need to get up to speed with CMMI Training FAST, like, yesterday! Where can we get this training? We want something a little more than a "lecture." ~ Lou B.


Lou,

Wow, that’s quite a request! The only way to get to yesterday’s CMMI training class is to climb in to a Delorean.


Don't have one sitting in your driveway? Maybe I can help you get to a class in the future.

The "Introduction to CMMI" course is an excellent course for anyone who is tasked with, or interested in, transforming their organization into a high-performing, lean, and productive team. Beginning with the WHY to use CMMI, then followed by the WHAT you need to do, and finally the HOW to do it, the Intro to CMMI class is a great place to begin for any project manager, engineer, software developer, line manager, analyst, tester, or process or quality professional.

Since you intend to participate in a SCAMPI Appraisal team, CMMI training is required. But while it may be too late to sign up for CMMI training class in 2017, you definitely have options for 2018. 

While you can always take a course at the CMMI Institute, but you might consider taking it from a CMMI Institute Partner, like Broadsword Solutions Corporation (www.broadswordsolutions.com). They'll fill in the gaps with stories, examples, exercises, and case studies as they go. It’s all based on their real-world experience. They even cover CMMI and Agile.

Broadsword just happens to be running one of these "Introduction to CMMI" Training classes February 6-9 in Fairfax, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. The first three days of this particular class are focused on CMMI-DEV. Also available is a one-day supplement on CMMI-SVC.

You can register at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/february-6-9-2018-introduction-to-cmmi-dev-training-woptional-svc-supplement-fairfax-va-tickets-38638711426

Good luck - and enjoy your class!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI training classes and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about engineering strategy, performance innovation, software process improvement and running a successful CMMI program.

What Is the SDCA and How Does It Help FCA Suppliers Win More Business?

Dear Jeff, we received a notice from Fiat Chrysler that an SDCA appraisal has been scheduled for us. As a new supplier to FCA, we know they use it to determine whether we will be a long term supplier, and we're excited about the opportunity. What is the SDCA, and how does it help us win more business? ~ Paul A.

Dear Paul,

Great questions! The Supplier Design Capability Appraisal (SDCA) is a engineering performance model that was established to provide an intuitive and flexible framework to be used for evaluating the engineering and project management capabilities of suppliers.


The goal of the SDCA is to determine if a supplier demonstrated high performance their work with Fiat Chrysler. From the suppliers’ perspective, the goal is much larger. The SDCA is a model for improving service and product delivery. By following its guidance, suppliers can put themselves on the path to becoming not just a better company, but a great company that earns the long-term business that FCA is able to provide them.

Here are three ways the SDCA can have a positive impact on your ability to win more business:

Reason #3: Marketing

There is no inherent value in having a high SDCA score. The real value comes from making it your goal to improve and change the way your entire organization behaves, so that you deliver a work product of greater value to the customer. As a by-product, you will be able to demonstrate a higher level of technical and process capability, which will become what you are known for, i.e., your “Way” of doing business, your brand.

Reason #2: Customer Mandates

FCA wants you to be a high performer for reasons that should inspire you to want to be better. They think the SDCA is important because it is important.

You seem to get this, Paul, but some suppliers really don’t yet. They call us and say, “What do I need to do to get a high score?”

I always respond by asking, “Is that really why you are doing this? I understand that you want to stay in your client’s good graces. But the SDCA is so much more valuable and useful than that. Let’s talk about things like how well you are running your operation, how well you are delivering, how happy your customer really is with your service and delivery.”

For anyone who is passionate about improvement, these kinds of questions will get your heart thumping. These are the kinds of things you WANT to be asking, because learning is your goal, not merely getting a high score, and because asking the right questions is what great companies do.

And that brings me to …

Reason #1: To Be a Great Company

I find that more and more organizations understand the value of process improvement and performance innovation. Suppliers are approaching the SDCA as one of the tools that can help them learn how to behave like a great company. And while they know it won’t be easy to do the work necessary to learn the behaviors and transform their culture, they willingly take on the challenge, knowing that the journey can be its own reward.

I appreciate your taking the time to send in your question, Paul. With a little context and creativity, the SDCA is a powerful solution for any supplier that plans, designs, and delivers any type of product or service for the FCA. As long as you focus on setting the right goals and objectives, and asking the right questions, you are going to be a great company, and your business will grow.

Good luck!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit http://my-broadswordsolutions.com for more information about running a successful SDCA program.