Objective Evidence vs. Typical Work Products

Would you please explain the relationship between Objective Evidence and Typical Work Products?

This is an interesting question, and one that can be easily answered by reading the CMMI Glossary, a little used part of the model. Most answers to questions can be found by first reading the Glossary definitions.

From the CMMI Glossary, the definition of Objective Evidence: As used in CMMI appraisal materials, documents or interview results used as indicators of the implementation or institutionalization of model practices. Sources of objective evidence can include instruments (questionnaires), presentations, documents, and interviews.

Typical Work Products are one of the topics contained in the Informative Component. All model components are important because the Informative Component helps you understand the Expected and Required Components. It is best to take these model components as a whole. If you understand all three types of information, then you can understand how everything fits together to form a framework that can benefit your organization.

From the CMMI Glossary, the definition of Typical Work Products: An informative model component that provides sample outputs from a specific practice. These examples are called typical work products because there are often other work products that are just as effective but are not listed.

So, in a nutshell, a Typical Work Product is an example of a tangible output that might be produced by performing a Specific Practice. The Objective Evidence are the actual work products and other items produced by performing the organization’s documented processes. So the Objective Evidence provided in an appraisal might or might not match the items listed as Typical Work Products.