Process area (CMMI)

The latest version of Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)--CMMI for Development, Version 1.2--contains 22 process areas that describe the aspects of product development that are to be covered by organizational processes.

Process area organization

In CMMI models, the process areas are organized in alphabetical order according to their acronym. However, process areas can be grouped according to maturity levels or process area categories.

Process Area Categories

There are four process area categories used in CMMI for Development: Project Management, Process Management, Engineering, and Support.

Process Management

• OID - Organizational Innovation and Deployment
• OPD - Organizational Process Definition +IPPD
• OPF - Organizational Process Focus
• OPP - Organizational Process Performance
• OT - Organizational Training

Project Management

• PP - Project Planning
• PMC - Project Monitoring and Control
• SAM - Supplier Agreement Management
• IPM - Integrated Project Management +IPPD
• RSKM - Risk Management
• QPM - Quantitative Project Management

Engineering

• REQM - Requirements Management
• RD - Requirements Development
• TS - Technical Solution
• PI - Product Integration
• VER - Verification
• VAL - Validation

Support

• CM - Configuration Management
• PPQA - Process and Product Quality Assurance
• MA - Measurement and Analysis
• DAR - Decision Analysis and Resolution
• CAR - Causal Analysis and Resolution

Maturity Levels

There are five maturity levels. However, maturity level ratings are awarded for levels 2 through 5.

Maturity Level 2

• CM - Configuration Management
• MA - Measurement and Analysis
• PMC - Project Monitoring and Control
• PP - Project Planning
• PPQA - Process and Product Quality Assurance
• REQM - Requirements Management
• SAM - Supplier Agreement Management

Maturity Level 3

• DAR - Decision Analysis and Resolution
• IPM - Integrated Project Management +IPPD
• OPD - Organizational Process Definition +IPPD
• OPF - Organizational Process Focus
• OT - Organizational Training
• PI - Product Integration
• RD - Requirements Development
• RSKM - Risk Management
• TS - Technical Solution
• VAL - Validation
• VER - Verification

Maturity Level 4

• QPM - Quantitative Project Management
• OPP - Organizational Process Performance

Maturity Level 5

• CAR - Causal Analysis and Resolution
• OID - Organizational Innovation and Deployment

Goals and Practices

There are two categories of goals and practices: generic and specific. Specific goals and practices are specific to a process area. Generic goals and practices are a part of every process area. A process area is satisfied when organizational processes cover all of the generic and specific goals and practices for that process area.

Specific Goals and Practices

Each process area is defined by a set of goals and practices. These goals and practices appear only in that process area.

Generic Goals and Practices

Generic goals and practices are a part of every process area.

• GG 1 Achieve Specific Goals
  • GP 1.1 Perform Specific Practices

• GG 2 Institutionalize a Managed Process
  • GP 2.1 Establish an Organizational Policy
  • GP 2.2 Plan the Process
  • GP 2.3 Provide Resources
  • GP 2.4 Assign Responsibility
  • GP 2.5 Train People
  • GP 2.6 Manage Configurations
  • GP 2.7 Identify and Involve Relevant Stakeholders
  • GP 2.8 Monitor and Control the Process
  • GP 2.9 Objectively Evaluate Adherence
  • GP 2.10 Review Status with Higher Level Management

• GG 3 Institutionalize a Defined Process
  • GP 3.1 Establish a Defined Process
  • GP 3.2 Collect Improvement Information

• GG 4 Institutionalize a Quantitatively Managed Process
  • GP 4.1 Establish Quantitative Objectives for the Process
  • GP 4.2 Stabilise Subprocess Performance

• GG 5 Institutionalize an Optimizing Process
  • GP 5.1 Ensure Continuous Process Improvement
  • GP 5.2 Correct Root Causes of Problems

Process Areas

CMMI for Development, Version 1.2 contains 22 process areas indicating the aspects of product and service development that are to be covered by organizational processes.

Causal Analysis and Resolution (CAR)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 5

Purpose

The purpose of Causal Analysis and Resolution (CAR) is to identify causes of defects and other problems and take action to prevent them from occurring in the future.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Determine Causes of Defects
  • SP 1.1 Select Defect Data for Analysis
  • SP 1.2 Analyze Causes
• SG 2 Address Causes of Defects
  • SP 2.1 Implement the Action Proposals
  • SP 2.2 Evaluate the Effect of Changes
  • SP 2.3 Record Data

Configuration Management (CM)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

The purpose of Configuration Management (CM) is to establish and maintain the integrity of work products using configuration identification, configuration control, configuration status accounting, and configuration audits.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Establish Baselines
  • SP 1.1 Identify Configuration Items
  • SP 1.2 Establish a Configuration Management System
  • SP 1.3 Create or Release Baselines
• SG 2 Track and Control Changes
  • SP 2.1 Track Change Requests
  • SP 2.2 Control Configuration Items
• SG 3 Establish Integrity
  • SP 3.1 Establish Configuration Management Records
  • SP 3.2 Perform Configuration Audits

Decision Analysis and Resolution (DAR)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Decision Analysis and Resolution (DAR) is to analyze possible decisions using a formal evaluation process that evaluates identified alternatives against established criteria.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Evaluate Alternatives
  • SP 1.1 Establish Guidelines for Decision Analysis
  • SP 1.2 Establish Evaluation Criteria
  • SP 1.3 Identify Alternative Solutions
  • SP 1.4 Select Evaluation Methods
  • SP 1.5 Evaluate Alternatives
  • SP 1.6 Select Solutions

Integrated Project Management +IPPD (IPM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Integrated Project Management +IPPD (IPM) is to establish and manage the project and the involvement of the relevant stakeholders according to an integrated and defined process that is tailored from the organization's set of standard processes.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Use the Project's Defined Process
  • SP 1.1 Establish the Project's Defined Process
  • SP 1.2 Use Organizational Process Assets for Planning Project Activities
  • SP 1.3 Establish the Project's Work Environment
  • SP 1.4 Integrate Plans
  • SP 1.5 Manage the Project Using the Integrated Plans
  • SP 1.6 Contribute to the Organizational Process Assets
• SG 2 Coordinate and Collaborate with Relevant Stakeholders
  • SP 2.1 Manage Stakeholder Involvement
  • SP 2.2 Manage Dependencies
  • SP 2.3 Resolve Coordination Issues

IPPD Addition:

• SG 3 Apply IPPD Principles
  • SP 3.1 Establish the Project’s Shared Vision
  • SP 3.2 Establish the Integrated Team Structure
  • SP 3.3 Allocate Requirements to Integrated Teams
  • SP 3.4 Establish Integrated Teams
  • SP 3.5 Ensure Collaboration among Interfacing Teams

Measurement and Analysis (MA)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

The purpose of Measurement and Analysis (MA) is to develop and sustain a measurement capability that is used to support management information needs.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Align Measurement and Analysis Activities
  • SP 1.1 Establish Measurement Objectives
  • SP 1.2 Specify Measures
  • SP 1.3 Specify Data Collection and Storage Procedures
  • SP 1.4 Specify Analysis Procedures
• SG 2 Provide Measurement Results
  • SP 2.1 Collect Measurement Data
  • SP 2.2 Analyze Measurement Data
  • SP 2.3 Store Data and Results
  • SP 2.4 Communicate Results

Organizational Innovation and Deployment (OID)

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 5

Purpose

The purpose of Organizational Innovation and Deployment (OID) is to select and deploy incremental and innovative improvements that measurably improve the organization's processes and technologies. The improvements support the organization's quality and process-performance objectives as derived from the organization's business objectives.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Select Improvements
  • SP 1.1 Collect and Analyze Improvement Proposals
  • SP 1.2 Identify and Analyze Innovations
  • SP 1.3 Pilot Improvements
  • SP 1.4 Select Improvements for Deployment
• SG 2 Deploy Improvements
  • SP 2.1 Plan the Deployment
  • SP 2.2 Manage the Deployment
  • SP 2.3 Measure Improvement Effects

Organizational Process Definition +IPPD (OPD)

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Organizational Process Definition +IPPD (OPD) is to establish and maintain a usable set of organizational process assets and work environment standards. For IPPD, Organizational Process Definition +IPPD also covers the establishment of organizational rules and guidelines that enable conducting work using integrated teams.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Establish Organizational Process Assets
  • SP 1.1 Establish Standard Processes
  • SP 1.2 Establish Lifecycle Model Descriptions
  • SP 1.3 Establish Tailoring Criteria and Guidelines
  • SP 1.4 Establish the Organization's Measurement Repository
  • SP 1.5 Establish the Organization's Process Asset Library
  • SP 1.6 Establish Work Environment Standards

IPPD Addition:

• SG 2 Enable IPPD Management
  • SP 2.1 Establish Empowerment Mechanisms
  • SP 2.2 Establish Rules and Guidelines for Integrated Teams
  • SP 2.3 Balance Team and Home Organization Responsibilities

Organizational Process Focus (OPF)

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Organizational Process Focus (OPF) is to plan, implement, and deploy organizational process improvements based on a thorough understanding of the current strengths and weaknesses of the organization's processes and process assets.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Determine Process Improvement Opportunities
  • SP 1.1 Establish Organizational Process Needs
  • SP 1.2 Appraise the Organization's Processes
  • SP 1.3 Identify the Organization's Process Improvements
• SG 2 Plan and Implement Process Improvements
  • SP 2.1 Establish Process Action Plans
  • SP 2.2 Implement Process Action Plans
• SG 3 Deploy Organizational Process Assets and Incorporate Lessons Learned
  • SP 3.1 Deploy Organizational Process Assets
  • SP 3.2 Deploy Standard Processes
  • SP 3.3 Monitor Implementation
  • SP 3.4 Incorporate Process-Related Experiences into the Organizational Process Assets

Organizational Process Performance (OPP)

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 4

Purpose

The purpose of Organizational Process Performance (OPP) is to establish and maintain a quantitative understanding of the performance of the organization's set of standard processes in support of quality and process-performance objectives, and to provide the process-performance data, baselines, and models to quantitatively manage the organization's projects.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Establish Performance Baselines and Models
  • SP 1.1 Select Processes
  • SP 1.2 Establish Process-Performance Measures
  • SP 1.3 Establish Quality and Process-Performance Objectives
  • SP 1.4 Establish Process-Performance Baselines
  • SP 1.5 Establish Process-Performance Models

Organizational Training (OT)

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Organizational Training (OT) is to develop the skills and knowledge of people so they can perform their roles effectively and efficiently.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Establish an Organizational Training Capability
  • SP 1.1 Establish the Strategic Training Needs
  • SP 1.2 Determine Which Training Needs Are the Responsibility of the Organization
  • SP 1.3 Establish an Organizational Training Tactical Plan
  • SP 1.4 Establish Training Capability
• SG 2 Provide Necessary Training
  • SP 2.1 Deliver Training
  • SP 2.2 Establish Training Records
  • SP 2.3 Assess Training Effectiveness

Product Integration (PI)

• An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Product Integration (PI) is to assemble the product from the product components, ensure that the product, as integrated, functions properly, and deliver the product.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Prepare for Product Integration
  • SP 1.1 Determine Integration Sequence
  • SP 1.2 Establish the Product Integration Environment
  • SP 1.3 Establish Product Integration Procedures and Criteria
• SG 2 Ensure Interface Compatibility
  • SP 2.1 Review Interface Descriptions for Completeness
  • SP 2.2 Manage Interfaces
• SG 3 Assemble Product Components and Deliver the Product
  • SP 3.1 Confirm Readiness of Product Components for Integration
  • SP 3.2 Assemble Product Components
  • SP 3.3 Evaluate Assembled Product Components
  • SP 3.4 Package and Deliver the Product or Product Component

Project Monitoring and Control (PMC)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

The purpose of Project Monitoring and Control (PMC) is to provide an understanding of the project's progress so that appropriate corrective actions can be taken when the project's performance deviates significantly from the plan.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Monitor Project Against Plan
  • SP 1.1 Monitor Project Planning Parameters
  • SP 1.2 Monitor Commitments
  • SP 1.3 Monitor Project Risks
  • SP 1.4 Monitor Data Management
  • SP 1.5 Monitor Stakeholder Involvement
  • SP 1.6 Conduct Progress Reviews
  • SP 1.7 Conduct Milestone Reviews
• SG 2 Manage Corrective Action to Closure
  • SP 2.1 Analyze Issues
  • SP 2.2 Take Corrective Action
  • SP 2.3 Manage Corrective Action

Project Planning (PP)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

The purpose of Project Planning (PP) is to establish and maintain plans that define project activities.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Establish Estimates
  • SP 1.1 Estimate the Scope of the Project
  • SP 1.2 Establish Estimates of Work Product and Task Attributes
  • SP 1.3 Define Project Lifecycle
  • SP 1.4 Determine Estimates of Effort and Cost
• SG 2 Develop a Project Plan
  • SP 2.1 Establish the Budget and Schedule
  • SP 2.2 Identify Project Risks
  • SP 2.3 Plan for Data Management
  • SP 2.4 Plan for Project Resources
  • SP 2.5 Plan for Needed Knowledge and Skills
  • SP 2.6 Plan Stakeholder Involvement
  • SP 2.7 Establish the Project Plan
• SG 3 Obtain Commitment to the Plan
  • SP 3.1 Review Plans that Affect the Project
  • SP 3.2 Reconcile Work and Resource Levels
  • SP 3.3 Obtain Plan Commitment

Process and Product Quality Assurance (PPQA)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

The purpose of Process and Product Quality Assurance (PPQA) is to provide staff and management with objective insight into processes and associated work products.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Objectively Evaluate Processes and Work Products
  • SP 1.1 Objectively Evaluate Processes
  • SP 1.2 Objectively Evaluate Work Products and Services
• SG 2 Provide Objective Insight
  • SP 2.1 Communicate and Ensure Resolution of Noncompliance Issues
  • SP 2.2 Establish Records

...

Quantitative Project Management (QPM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 4

Purpose

The purpose of the Quantitative Project Management (QPM) process area is to quantitatively manage the project's defined process to achieve the project's established quality and process-performance objectives.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Quantitatively Manage the Project
  • SP 1.1 Establish the Project's Objectives
  • SP 1.2 Compose the Defined Processes
  • SP 1.3 Select the Subprocesses that Will Be Statistically Managed
  • SP 1.4 Manage Project Performance
• SG 2 Statistically Manage Subprocess Performance
  • SP 2.1 Select Measures and Analytic Techniques
  • SP 2.2 Apply Statistical Methods to Understand Variation
  • SP 2.3 Monitor Performance of the Selected Subprocesses
  • SP 2.4 Record Statistical Management Data

Requirements Development (RD)

• • An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Requirements Development (RD) is to produce and analyze customer, product, and product component requirements.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Develop Customer Requirements
  • SP 1.1 Elicit Needs
  • SP 1.2 Develop the Customer Requirements
• SG 2 Develop Product Requirements
  • SP 2.1 Establish Product and Product Component Requirements
  • SP 2.2 Allocate Product Component Requirements
  • SP 2.3 Identify Interface Requirements
• SG 3 Analyze and Validate Requirements
  • SP 3.1 Establish Operational Concepts and Scenarios
  • SP 3.2 Establish a Definition of Required Functionality
  • SP 3.3 Analyze Requirements
  • SP 3.4 Analyze Requirements to Achieve Balance
  • SP 3.5 Validate Requirements

Requirements Management (REQM)

• An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

The purpose of Requirements Management (REQM) is to manage the requirements of the project's products and product components and to identify inconsistencies between those requirements and the project's plans and work products.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Manage Requirements
  • SP 1.1 Obtain an Understanding of Requirements
  • SP 1.2 Obtain Commitment to Requirements
  • SP 1.3 Manage Requirements Changes
  • SP 1.4 Maintain Bidirectional Traceability of Requirements
  • SP 1.5 Identify Inconsistencies Between Project Work and Requirements

Risk Management (RSKM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Risk Management (RSKM) is to identify potential problems before they occur so that risk-handling activities can be planned and invoked as needed across the life of the product or project to mitigate adverse impacts on achieving objectives.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Prepare for Risk Management
  • SP 1.1 Determine Risk Sources and Categories
  • SP 1.2 Define Risk Parameters
  • SP 1.3 Establish a Risk Management Strategy
• SG 2 Identify and Analyze Risks
  • SP 2.1 Identify Risks
  • SP 2.2 Evaluate, Categorize, and Prioritize Risks
• SG 3 Mitigate Risks
  • SP 3.1 Develop Risk Mitigation Plans
  • SP 3.2 Implement Risk Mitigation Plans

Supplier Agreement Management (SAM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

The purpose of Supplier Agreement Management (SAM) is to manage the acquisition of products from suppliers.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Establish Supplier Agreements
  • SP 1.1 Determine Acquisition Type
  • SP 1.2 Select Suppliers
  • SP 1.3 Establish Supplier Agreements
• SG 2 Satisfy Supplier Agreements
  • SP 2.1 Execute the Supplier Agreement
  • SP 2.2 Monitor Selected Supplier Processes
  • SP 2.3 Evaluate Selected Supplier Work Products
  • SP 2.4 Accept the Acquired Product
  • SP 2.5 Transition Products

Technical Solution (TS)

• An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Technical Solution (TS) is to design, develop, and implement solutions to requirements. Solutions, designs, and implementations encompass products, product components, and product-related lifecycle processes either singly or in combination as appropriate.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Select Product Component Solutions
  • SP 1.1 Develop Alternative Solutions and Selection Criteria
  • SP 1.2 Select Product Component Solutions
• SG 2 Develop the Design
  • SP 2.1 Design the Product or Product Component
  • SP 2.2 Establish a Technical Data Package
  • SP 2.3 Design Interfaces Using Criteria
  • SP 2.4 Perform Make, Buy, or Reuse Analyses
• SG 3 Implement the Product Design
  • SP 3.1 Implement the Design
  • SP 3.2 Develop Product Support Documentation

Validation (VAL)

• An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Validation (VAL) is to demonstrate that a product or product component fulfills its intended use when placed in its intended environment.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Prepare for Validation
  • SP 1.1 Select Products for Validation
  • SP 1.2 Establish the Validation Environment
  • SP 1.3 Establish Validation Procedures and Criteria
• SG 2 Validate Product or Product Components
  • SP 2.1 Perform Validation
  • SP 2.2 Analyze Validation Results

Verification (VER)

• An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Verification (VER) is to ensure that selected work products meet their specified requirements.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Prepare for Verification
  • SP 1.1 Select Work Products for Verification
  • SP 1.2 Establish the Verification Environment
  • SP 1.3 Establish Verification Procedures and Criteria
• SG 2 Perform Peer Reviews
  • SP 2.1 Prepare for Peer Reviews
  • SP 2.2 Conduct Peer Reviews
  • SP 2.3 Analyze Peer Review Data
• SG 3 Verify Selected Work Products
  • SP 3.1 Perform Verification
  • SP 3.2 Analyze Verification Results

Changes made in Version 1.2

Only changes made to the set of Process Areas are considered here. For more information about the changes made to Version 1.2, see the Version 1.2 Release Notes or for the definitive list of changes, take the CMMI Version 1.2 Upgrade Training.

• The following Process Areas have been removed (all on Maturity Level 3):
  • Organisational Environment for Integration (OEI)
  • Integrated Teaming (IT)
  • Integrated Supplier Management (ISM)
• The following additions have been made within existing Process Areas:
  • IPM – SG3 and SG4 were eliminated, new SG3 was added (all IPPD PAs)
  • OPD – SG was added, turning it in an IPPD PA
  • OPF – two SPs were extracted from the old SG3 and combined with two new SPs to create the new SG3
  • REQD – SP3.5 was renamed Validate Requirements
  • SAM – SP2.1 was eliminated, two new SPs added in SG2
  • TS – SP1.2 was incorporated into RD SP 3.1
  • VER – SP3.2 was renamed Analyze Verification Results

See also

• Capability Maturity Model
• Capability Maturity Model Integration

References

• CMMI Product Team (August 2006). "CMMI® for Development, Version 1.2" (PDF). Technical Report CMU/SEI-2006-TR-008. Software Engineering Institute. Retrieved 28 December. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

• Chrissis, Mary Beth (2003-024). CMMI: Guidelines for Process Integration and Product Improvement. Addison-Wesley Professional. ISBN 0-3215496-7. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

External links

• Official CMMI Web Site at the Software Engineering Institute
• CMMI for Development, Version 1.2 Release Notes at the Software Engineering Institute
• A tabulated and annotated version of CMMI for Software Development is presented here]
• Order a CMMI Poster]