Bon voyage, sweet Generics, we hardly knew ya!

Editor's Note: This is second in our series about the upcoming release of CMMI v2.0 [Jeff]

Thirteen practices, eighteen process areas, and a whole lot of discovery goin' on! We've all just gotten used to it - now you can say goodbye to the Generic Practices....FOREVER!**

The CMMI's Generic Practices (GPs), the set of 13 practices that serve as the "secret sauce" for ensuring institutionalization and adoption across all of the process areas, have been part of the CMMI since the beginning. 

As I've taught in 100+ CMMI training classes, they are the definition of "goodness" for successful process implementation.

Currently, users of the CMMI model apply the following Generic Practices to every process thread:

GP1.1: Perform Specific Practices (show up, do your work, duh)

GP2.1: Establish an Organizational Policy (ensure everyone understands what is expected of them)

GP2.2: Plan the Process (plan out how the process will be executed, so everyone knows)

GP2.3 Provide Resources (make sure all the tools, funding, and other resources are provided to be successful)

GP2.4: Assign Responsibility (assign process roles, not job titles)

GP2.5: Train People: (yeah, yeah, yeah, no one does this...enough)

GP2.6: Control Work Products (don't be a jerk, save your work)

GP2.7: Identify and Involve Relevant Stakeholders (are people playing their process roles?)

GP2.8: Monitor and Control the Process (is it working as planned?)

GP2.9: Objectively Evaluate Adherance (are people using the process?)

GP2.10: Review Status with Higher Level Management (making sure they care)

GP3.1: Establish a Defined Process (the project gets to tailor the process)

GP3.2 Collect Process Related Experiences (long way of saying lessons-learned, metrics, retros)

I've long said that the GPs are the best part of the CMMI, and they are what really differentiates it from other models.  And they're going away.

In CMMI v2.0 there will be more Practice Areas [heads up: name change in v2.0]  focused on the process, and two of them, Implementation Infrastructure (II) and Governance (GOV), will serve a similar function to the GPs.  We'll do a direct mapping in a later post, but for now, the practice areas include:

Implementation Infrastructure (II)

II will include practices for performing the process, providing resources, training, using organizational assets, and collecting lessons and assets.  Sound familiar?

Governance (GOV)

GOV covers more ground than the Generic Practices, but it also includes setting of policies and expectations, providing resources for continuous improvement, and adhering to policies.

So, yeah, the Generic Practices.

It's my understanding that both II and GOV will need to be applied to ALL Practice Areas in scope for an appraisal, and the "level" of each must match the target maturity level (think "Continuous Representation" and you'll get the idea).  Of course - some of this might change prior to release on March 31, but this seems pretty well baked.  So, at least they've kept the functionality.

So, the days of using the Generic Practices as a handy "front-of-book, back-of-the-book" reference are over, and you'll no longer have them to kick around during appraisals.  But now we'll have II and GOV to look forward to - so onward!

There are quite a few other changes – including how CMMI Training has changed (next week), and more.  I'll be back in a couple of days to write about those.

Meantime, if you're interested in learning more about the set of in-depth classes we are offering on the subject in May, click "CMMI v2.0 Training."

** all of this could change before the release on March 31, although I doubt it will.

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.

Doin' the SCAMPI Shuffle: Hello Benchmarking!

Editor's Note: This is first in our series about the upcoming release of CMMI v2.0 [Jeff]

Doin' the SCAMPI Shuffle!

What happens to SCAMPI in CMMI v2.0?

CMMI v1.3

If you're a follower of my blog, you know (and love) SCAMPI - the "Standard CMMI Method for Process Improvement," the globally adored standard method for conducting CMMI Appraisals resulting in a Maturity Level (or Capability Level) rating (ex. "ML4").

Actually, there are three different flavors of SCAMPI.  The best known is the SCAMPI A, or "Class A" appraisal.  This is the most rigorous appraisal, has a high evidence requirement, and is the only appraisal that can result in a Maturity Level Rating.

The other two are:

• Class B, a less rigorous cousin of "A's" that is often used as a Readiness Appraisal or "system test" prior to conducting a Class A.
• Class C, which is often used as an early gap analysis tool.  Both have their place, but don't result in a maturity level.

The entire objective of a SCAMPI appraisal, regardless of type, is to evaluate the process improvement infrastructure that an organization has deployed, and to identify, using evidence-based methods, opportunities for improvement.  As they say, "SCAMPI without Process Improvement is a SCAM."  Or something.

At some point, our friends in the government (followed by many commercial enterprises) started to require a successful SCAMPI A ("get a level") as part of their selection process, and that put the industry on a trajectory towards growing the number (and cost) of SCAMPI A Appraisals.

In fact, cost, primarily the internal kind, has become the #1 impediment to companies adopting CMMI, and since they don't adopt it, they often can't bid. See the problem?  Thanks, government.

Enter CMMI v2.0

Join us for CMMI v2.0 Training!

CMMI v2.0 is an entirely new, downsized, and improved model along with a shiny new (yet to be named) appraisal methodology.  All we know now about the name is that it won't be named "SCAMPI."

Instead of a SCAMPI A there'll be a "Benchmarking" appraisal.  That appraisal, like a CMMI v1.3 appraisal, will have a shelf-life of three years.

Then comes the "Sustainment" appraisal.  If the organization hasn't changed much, and they conduct one of there babies prior to expiration, they get to conduct a smaller, more efficient appraisal that is good for TWO years.  This is similar in concept to the ill-fated "SCAMPI-E" that never really got much traction in v1.3.

After that, we have the "Evaluation" appraisal.  This is similar to a Class C, or even a Class B, in that it doesn't result in a maturity level, but is open to tailoring, unlike the Benchmarking appraisal.

There are quite a few other changes - including how the sample will be generated, requirements of appraisal team members, and more.  I'll be back in a couple of days to write about those.

Meantime, if you're interested in learning more about the set of in-depth classes we are offering on the subject in May, click "CMMI v2.0 Training."

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.

Is CMMI still popular?

Hey, CMMI Appraiser – We've been discussing adopting a process model to help guide us while improving our software development organization's performance. Is the CMMI still popular among large organizations, and would this be the best framework for what we are trying to do? ~ Sanjam S.

Hey, Sanjam, thank you for your questions! The answer to both is “Yes!”

Yes, the CMMI is still extremely popular among companies of all sizes. CMMI adoption continues to expand, both in the USA and worldwide. Check out the new data released by the CMMI Institute:

The CMMI Institute's 2017 Annual Report to Partners analyzes the worldwide market to determine the adoption of the CMMI. As you can see, the 2,632 appraisals conducted in 2017 represents a new high water mark. Adoption continues to increase, 17% overall and 3% in the United States.

2017 was a great year for CMMI. More organizations than ever got CMMI appraisals, and satisfaction has strengthened with end-users giving CMMI a world-class Net Promoter Score of +44, up three points from 2013.

Another interesting statistic from the Report, as it pertains to your goal of becoming a Fortune 500 company:

The Report states that an examination of the recent list by Fortune magazine of the 500 largest companies in the world revealed that 34 Fortune 500 companies have received CMMI appraisals. In addition, 14 of the Top 50 Most Admired companies by Forbes have active CMMI appraisals.

Those 14 companies are: Microsoft, General Electric, Honeywell, IBM, Boeing, General Dynamics, Northrump Grummond, Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton, McKesson, Raytheon, Cognizant, Aetna, and Insight.

To answer your second question, based on what you’ve shared here, yes, an evidence-based model like the CMMI is the best framework for what you are trying to do.  It's both broad and deep, and assuming you don't over-do it, it should fit your need quite nicely.

I appreciate your comment that you are considering achieving a CMMI Maturity Level in the spirit of trying to do the right things to improve. It’s also useful to keep in mind that this discussion is also about risk management. The way you do things – the way you drive software process improvement in your firm, for example – is in itself, a risk-avoidance technique. You can keep items off your risk list by learning to adopt an evidence-based model like the CMMI to guide the behaviors of the people who are doing the work.

Going forward, I would say that the adoption of CMMI by organizations like yours is the trajectory the industry is on. It’s all part of a widespread movement by companies large and small in North America to put themselves on the path to greatness and compete in the global market.

The CMMI supports your intention to do things the right way by keeping you focused on the right behaviors. Not only will you achieve CMMI Level 2 or CMMI Level 3 (the most common CMMI maturity levels) as a natural result … not only will you drive the software process improvement results you are looking for … but you’ll be on the path to greatness, whether you ultimately make the Fortune 500 list or not.

Now that’s what I call doing things the right way!

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.

CMMI V2.0 is coming! Are you ready?

Dear, CMMI Appraiser, I just found out that an all new version of CMMI coming out soon. We were recently re-appraised for CMMI-DEV v1.3, and we heard nothing about this at the time. What secret changes are coming for me and my company? ~ Jay H.

Dear Jay,

I understand that the CMMI 2.0 news may have caught you by surprise -- but don't let it throw you off your game. In CMMI, as in life, there is really only one real secret: Change happens.

To help you learn about CMMI 2.0, I will be writing about it this month, and also will be leading one of the first public CMMI 2.0 Training Classes, on May 7-9, 2018, in Washington, D.C. You are personally invited to attend.

There is a lot to learn - new language, new practices, and a brand new appraisal methodology.

Click here to learn about registering for “CMMI v2.0 Training” 

A ton of value is packed into this class (actually, it's two classes - Foundations of Capability + Building DEV Excellence). Since you're already thinking about your next appraisal, you'll appreciate knowing that the this class will take you inside the changing Appraisal process. You will be introduced to the new concepts in the latest release of the new CMMI model, and you will see how these changes impact the way CMMI Appraisals are conducted.

Here's a preview:  SCAMPI is going away!  So are Specific Goals....

But you don't have to wait until May to start learning about CMMI 2.0. Over the coming weeks, we'll explore the nuances of the changing CMMI model and appraisal method right here. So stop back soon -- and bring a friend!

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

Jeff Dalton is a Certified CMMI v2.0 Lead Appraiser and Instructor, as well as a CMMI v1.3 SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. 

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