Duration: Half-day

Target Audience:  Project Managers, Business Client managers, Lead Software Designers & Developers,  Business Analysts, Testers 

Description:
For good business reasons, many companies have chosen the Software Engineering Institute's (SEIT) Software Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI^®) as the model for their software process improvement efforts. The SEI has provided an appraisal method to measure the degree of compliance with the CMMI. However, many companies struggle with decisions regarding the nature, timing, and scope of these appraisals.  Not sufficiently planning for an appraisal can be a costly mistake.  Not obtaining sufficient sponsorship, choosing the wrong Lead Assessor^SM, and not providing training in interviewing skills are all common mistakes.

Software Management Solutions is pleased to introduce this three-hour workshop for IT managers to help them get answer to many of their questions on CMMI based appraisals. This seminar is designed to show what is involved in performing a CMMI-based systems/software development appraisal, including a rationale for using the Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI). The life cycle of an appraisal is examined with discussion of the timeframes, appraisal mechanics and roles and responsibilities for each task.  Also included is a discussion of the different types of SCAMPI appraisals (Class A, B and C), and the advantages and disadvantages of the different appraisal types.

What you will learn:

Students will:

• Get a brief history lesson on the origins of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI^SM) and the CMMI

•  Learn about the 3 different classes of SCAMPI appraisals and the purpose of each

• Learn about the critical tasks in planning for an appraisal, including choosing a lead assessor, selecting and training an internal appraisal team, and building an appraisal plan

• Understand the mechanics of an appraisal; best-practice interviewing techniques, reporting the final findings and recommendations, and how to organize follow-up activities

Topics:

History

• Origins of the SEI and the CMMI
• Types of Appraisals: SCAMPI classes A, B and C

Rationale for Appraisals

• Internal Drivers

• External Drivers

Planning for Appraisals

• Role of the Sponsor

• Choosing a Lead Assessor

• Determining Scope (Organizational and Model)

• Different types of Appraisals (SCAMPI A, B and C)

• Choosing and Training an Internal Team

• Determining Length and Cost

• The Site Coordinator and Logistics

• Generation and Approval of Appraisal Input and Appraisal Plan

• The Appraisal Schedule

Appraisal (SCAMPI) Mechanics

• Questionnaires

• Team Training

• Meeting with the Sponsor

• Document Preparation, Readiness Reviews and Technical Briefings

• Interviewees

• Interview Mechanics

• Consolidation and Observations

• Draft Findings

• Consolidation and Ratings

• Final Findings and Recommendations

• Follow-Up Activities

• Logistics

Different Classes of Appraisals

• Mechanical Differences

• Advantages and Disadvantages

• Cost Differences

Prerequisites:  Familiarity with software development

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^SM SEI, SCAMPI, SCAMPI Lead Assessor, and SCAMPI Lead Appraiser are service marks of Carnegie Mellon University.
^® CMMI is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office by Carnegie Mellon University.