Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI Key concepts for performance improvement - Nuno Alexandre Seixas (PT Inovação)

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Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Nuno Alexandre Seixas
Project and Program Manager, CMMI-DEV Certified Instructor
PT Inovação
2012-07-06, Coimbra

2. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Agenda
• CMMI Concepts
• Using CMMI for performance improvement
• Experiences for discussion
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3. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
CMMI Concepts
The model points out the
importance of 3 critical
dimensions that need to be
addressed in order to get
performance improvement
Taken from: Software Engineering Institute, CMMI for Development, Version 1.3, Technical Report, CMU/SEI-2010-TR-033
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4. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
CMMI Concepts
In order to CMMI
understand and - The WHAT -
use CMMI, it's
important to
understand the
Appraisal Definition
concept of (Lead Interpretation (EPG
Interpretation Appraisal, Consultants)
ATM)
Organization
- The HOW -
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5. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
CMMI Concepts
Tailoring is also an important part of CMMI:
• GP 3.1 – “Establish a Defined Process”
• IPM (Integrated Project Management)
• SP 1.1 Establish the Project’s Defined Process
• OPD (Organizational Process Definition)
• SP 1.1 Establish Standard Processes
• SP 1.2 Establish Lifecycle Model Descriptions
• SP 1.3 Establish Tailoring Criteria and Guidelines
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6. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
CMMI Concepts
The Organization
Process
Training of Improvement
People Organization’s
Measurement
Repository
Organization’s Organization’s
Tailoring
Set of Standard Process Asset
Guidelines
Processes Library
A Project
Defined Process
Project Plans
Adapted from: Software Engineering Institute, CMMI for Development, Version 1.3, Technical Report, CMU/SEI-2010-TR-033
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7. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Using CMMI for performance improvement
So, how do you apply these concepts in a real organization?
FORGET CMMI!!!!!
Taken from: http://www.wibas.com/publications/scrum/scrum_and_cmmi/index_en.html, June 2012
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8. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Using CMMI for performance improvement
Of course, you will not FORGET CMMI, you just need to
refocus
• On your business objectives
• On your organization’s culture
• On your own processes
And CMMI will come naturally…
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9. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Using CMMI for performance improvement
Some thoughts on CMMI implementation:
1. Know the problem:
- The organizational initial state
CMMI appraisals, inquiries, assessments, …
- The model characteristics
Read, take official courses, talk with others, visit other companies
It’s important to have a correct knowledge of the
problems you are trying to solve.
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Key concepts for performance improvement
Using CMMI for performance improvement
Some thoughts on CMMI implementation:
2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses
- Praise the strengths
- Understand the weaknesses:
- Are they real, or just misconceptions from the model?
- Why are they weaknesses? What are they affecting?
- Everyone understand this as a weakness?
- Is there any part of the organization that doesn’t have this one?
Why? What are doing different?
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11. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Using CMMI for performance improvement
Some thoughts on CMMI implementation:
3. Once the problem is realized by everyone:
• Which ones can be addressed by quick wins – start with these
• Which ones need process redefinition?
Ensure that changes are aligned with your business values and
objectives
Ensure that people understand clearly the rational for the change
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12. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Using CMMI for performance improvement
Some thoughts on CMMI implementation:
4. Leave space for improvement
• How can teams suggest different approaches (process waivers)
• How are processes going to support and encourage
improvement?
• How can processes deal with self-organizing teams?
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13. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Using CMMI for performance improvement
List of DO’s and DON’T:
• DO use CMMI as a tool for improvement
• DON’T use CMMI as a blindfold
• DO use CMMI to help you understand how to improve your
own processes
• DON’T use CMMI as your own process
• DO use CMMI as guide for improvement
• DON’T use CMMI as an excuse for setting bureaucracy
• DO use CMMI with common sense!!!
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14. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Experiences for discussion
Some food for thought:
1. Does every Project Manager in CMMI ML3 organization
needs to know the CMMI model?
First of all, does this mean that everyone needs to attend
CMMI-DEV Introduction to CMMI course?
In my opinion, no, not everyone needs to know CMMI. People
need to know their own processes…
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15. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Experiences for discussion
Some food for thought:
2. Why can’t we somehow adapt CMMI to our own reality?
You better adapt…OR else, you’ll end up with CMMI-like
processes, with no value for you, and it will not be
institutionalized.
Mainly, you are not doing a correct implementation of CMMI.
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16. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Experiences for discussion
Some food for thought:
3. Can’ t CMMI implementation be not heavy weight and
bureaucratic?
Only the bad implementations are bureaucratic and not
bringing any added value.
The organization need to understand what is the best degree
of adaptation they need
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17. Interpretation and Tailoring in CMMI
Key concepts for performance improvement
Any other thoughts?
Thank you.
Nuno Alexandre Seixas
nseixas@gmail.com
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