Emergence of Open Organization- when will it happen? LinkedIn + Google+Sourceforge+Newscale + Visa
I foresee Newscale/ Pinky/SEI coming up with a master service catalogue that could be integrated with Google where any Group member can have his own service catalog in his profile. The Group Service catalog could well be an Organization's service catalog. Probably any individual would say he has his office is in Yahoo!, Google etc and may add that he works for a particular social enterprise/many enterprises. I also feel that some governmental procedures or a global standard will evolve for the governance of Open companies. My question is does the CMMI-SVC address this?
What you are asking about is a virtual office environment and the tools to enable this environment. There are two practices in the CMMI that address work environments: OPD SP 1.6 Establish and maintain work environment standards and IPM SP 1.3 Establish and maintain the project’s work environment based on the organization’s work environment standards. Since both OPD and IPM are Core Process Areas (PAs), they are common to all CMMI constellations CMMI-DEV, CMMI-ACQ, and CMMI-SVC. So your virtual office concept can work with any of the three constellations.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Advice on a Gap Analysis
For the first assessment, does the gap analysis have to be performed against practices or against work products?
There are no specified standard requirements for a Gap Analysis. The Gap Analysis is intended to identify major differences between a model standard and actual practice. A Gap Analysis may involve just reviewing documents, just interviewing people, or a combination of both. I like to evaluate a combination of documents and people for a Gap Analysis. This approach yields the best results, because in many cases the process as practiced is different from the process as documented.
There are no specified standard requirements for a Gap Analysis. The Gap Analysis is intended to identify major differences between a model standard and actual practice. A Gap Analysis may involve just reviewing documents, just interviewing people, or a combination of both. I like to evaluate a combination of documents and people for a Gap Analysis. This approach yields the best results, because in many cases the process as practiced is different from the process as documented.
Definition of Work Product Terms
What is the meaning of the following work products: WBS task dictionary, documented requests for commitments, and documented commitments?
There are no unique definitions for these terms in the context of the CMMI. Otherwise these terms would be defined in the CMMI Glossary. These are standard Project Management terms.
The WBS Task Dictionary is the list of tasks, deliverables, and predecessor/successor relationships between the tasks. There is sufficient information provided so anyone using the WBS Task Dictionary will have enough information to create a WBS for a project.
Documented Requests for Commitments means exactly what the words say. A request for a commitment. It can be as simple as emailing a document to someone for their commitment and approval.
Documented Commitments again means exactly what the words say. Basically the commitments made by the various parties and stakeholders are written down somewhere.
KPA vs. PA
What is the difference between the terms KPA and PA?
KPA stands for Key Process Area and applied to the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) that was retired years ago. This term no longer has any meaning.
PA stands for a CMMI Process Area.
KPA and PA are basically the same, but KPA is only relevant for the obsolete CMM and PA is only relevant for the current CMMI.
The CMMI Glossary defines a Process Area as a cluster of related practices in an area that, when implemented collectively, satisfy a set of goals considered important for making improvements in that area. All CMMI Process Areas are common to both the Continuous and Staged Representations.
KPA stands for Key Process Area and applied to the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) that was retired years ago. This term no longer has any meaning.
PA stands for a CMMI Process Area.
KPA and PA are basically the same, but KPA is only relevant for the obsolete CMM and PA is only relevant for the current CMMI.
The CMMI Glossary defines a Process Area as a cluster of related practices in an area that, when implemented collectively, satisfy a set of goals considered important for making improvements in that area. All CMMI Process Areas are common to both the Continuous and Staged Representations.
Challenges with Implementing the CMMI in Small Settings
At the 2009 North American SEPG Conference in San Jose last week, I was the first presenter in the Small Settings track. This was a well attended presentation and I wanted to share it on my blog with those of you who were not able to attend this year. I also wrote a companion article published by ExecutiveBrief that you can read at Small Business and the CMMI: Sink or Swim.
Friday, March 27, 2009
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.
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.
What Class of SCAMPI Appraisal is Appropriate?
My organization has just started our process improvement journey. For our first appraisal, which SCAMPI class (A, B, or C) should we use?
I would strongly suggest that your organization hire either a SCAMPI Lead Appraiser or a SCAMPI B/C Team Leader to help you determine which SCAMPI appraisal A, B, or C would be best for your organization. In order for you to obtain the best information and useful results, you need to use either an SEI-trained and authorized SCAMPI B/C Team Leader or a SCAMPI A Lead Appraiser. Do not attempt to do this by yourself.
For a new client, I typically recommend an initial Gap Analysis to provide a starting point for determining the path forward. The Gap Analysis, depending upon its rigor, can be either a SCAMPI C or a SCAMPI B.
I would strongly suggest that your organization hire either a SCAMPI Lead Appraiser or a SCAMPI B/C Team Leader to help you determine which SCAMPI appraisal A, B, or C would be best for your organization. In order for you to obtain the best information and useful results, you need to use either an SEI-trained and authorized SCAMPI B/C Team Leader or a SCAMPI A Lead Appraiser. Do not attempt to do this by yourself.
For a new client, I typically recommend an initial Gap Analysis to provide a starting point for determining the path forward. The Gap Analysis, depending upon its rigor, can be either a SCAMPI C or a SCAMPI B.
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