What is staged and continuous models in CMMI?
Staged Model:
The staged model has groups of process areas which are divided into 5 levels. This stage is used by the ancestor software development CMM. It is represented to achieve a CMMI Level Rating from a SCAMPI appraisal.
Continuous Model:
The continuous representation, used by the ancestor systems engineering CMM, is defined as the capability levels within each profile.
In CMMI, process areas can be either of the 2 types:
continuous or staged representation. In Continuous representation, process areas are the summary components. Every process area then has specific goals that are implemented using best practices. It also includes generic goals and generic practices to achieve them. The individual process areas refer to specific goals and practices whereas the generic ones apply to multiple goals. In staged representation, summary components are the maturity levels. Every maturity level has process areas, with their goals and practices. Practices are categorized into common features:
a. Commitment to perform
b. Ability to perform
c. Activities performed
d. Directing implementation
e. Verifying implementation
Explain capability levels in continous representation.In CMMI models there are six capability levels which are designated by the digits from 0 to 5
Capability Level 0: Incomplete
It is a process which is not performed fully or partially. One or more specific goals of the process area would not be satisfied and generic goals do not exist for this level.
Capability Level 1: Performed
This level is expected for performing all the level specific practices. Stable or non-met specific objectives such as quality, cost, and schedule may not be performed well, but the work done is useful. Something is done but could not prove that it will really work for.
Capability Level 2: Managed
It is a process which is planned, performed, monitored and controlled for individual projects or groups or could be stand-alone processes for achieving a given need. Both the model objectives for the process and other related objectives like cost, schedule and quality are managed in this process. The things that are to be managed in an enterprise are managed actively in this level. There are certain metrics which are to be collected consistently and applied for management approach.
Capability Level 3: Defined
This process is characterized as a “well defined process”. It is referred as a managed process which is tailored for the standards of the organization as per the tailoring guidelines of the organization and the work products, measures and other process related improvement information are contributed.
Capability Level 4: Quantitatively Managed
This process is defined as a process which is properly controlled using statistical and other quantitative techniques. Quality and process performance are established and utilized as the major criteria in process management. The quality of process performance is estimated in statistical terms. This quality is managed throughout the process life cycle.
Capability Level 5: Optimizing
It is a quantitatively managed process which is improved that is based on an understanding the process variation inherent cause in the process. The focus is on continually improving the performance of the process by both incremental and innovative improvements. The target of these processes is activities improvement..
What is SCAMPI process?SCAMPI stands for Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement. Bench mark quality ratings are provided by it which is relative to Capability Maturity Model Integration models. Wide range of appraisal usage models are utilized by applying SCAMPI process, including internal process improvement and external capability determinations. All of the Appraisal Requirements for CMMI (ARC) requirements for a Class A appraisal method is satisfied by SCAMPI and it supports the assessment conduct of ISO/IEC 15504.
What is the importance of PII in SCAMPI?The Practice Implementation Indicators is based on the fundamental idea of the assumption that the performance of an activity or the implementation of a practice will always results in “footprints” those are attributable to the activity or the practice.
Explain the different Process Area in CMMI.The following are the different process areas in CMMI:
1. Initial Process: This process involves in software configuration management, software quality assurance, software subcontract management, software project tracking and oversight, software project planning and requirements management.
2. Defined Process: This process involves in peer reviews, intergroup coordination, software product engineering, integrated software management, training program, organization process definition, organization process focus.
3. Managed Process: This process involves in software quality management, quantitative process management
4. Optimizing Process: Process change management, technology change management, and defect preventionProject Management Concepts: This consists of Project planning, Project monitoring and control, Risk Management, Process and product quality assurance, Configuration management, Supplier agreement management, Integrated supplier management, Measurement analysis,
Engineering Concepts: This includes Requirements development, Technical solution, Requirements management, Product integration, Verification, Validation, Decision analysis and resolution.
Process Management concepts: This includes Organizational process definition, Integrate project management.
Integrated teaming concepts: This includes integrated project management, Organizational environment for integration, and integrated teaming.
Quantitative management concepts: This includes Quantitative project and process management.
Optimizing concepts: This includes Causal analysis and resolution, Organizational innovation and deployment.
What is CMMI? Explain the advantages of implementing CMMI.Capability maturity model integration is a process improvement approach for organizations to comply and maintain quality and process improvement. It helps organizations to integrate separate functions, set goals and priorities, provide guidance, and assess current processes.
Advantages of implementing CMMI:
a. Detailed coverage of the product life cycle than other process-improvement products used alone.
b. CMMI provides an opportunity to eliminate the stovepipes and barriers that typically exist in different parts of an organization and that typically are not addressed otherwise
c. CMMI products incorporate lessons learnt that were learnt as a result of many other standard processes. Therefore they inherently, handle some of the common problems faced by other process improvement approaches.
d. Promotes collaboration between systems and software engineering.
e. Allows users to choose model representation that best suits them and their objectives.
Explain the different Models in CMMI.Different CMMI models are:
CMMI for Development: Describes Product and service for development processes. An organization usually does not build everything it needs for build a product. It builds some elements and acquires some to build a product. CMMI for development includes processes to manage this. It also includes best practices that address development process.
CMMI for Acquisition: Describe Product and service acquisition processes. It defines processes that provide guidance to acquisition organizations for managing acquisitions of products and services. It enlists the processes needed for acquisitions and integrates various knowledge bodies that are needed.
CMMI for Services: Describe Service establishment, management, and delivery processes. Includes guides to reduce costs, improve quality and predictability. Guides organizations to define what services they should be providing, define standards, let the world know about them. Explain the SCAMPI Process.Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement. The SCAMPI process is designed to provide milestone quality ratings in reference to CMMI models. It’s widely applicable to appraisal usage modes, including internal process improvement and also external capability determinations. It satisfies all appraisal requirements for CMMI requirement for Class A appraisal method. It describes requirements, activities, and practices related to processes that make the SCAMPI method. They are often used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current processes, reveal risks. It defines the appraisal process consisting of monitoring in-site activities, preliminary observations, findings & ratings, reporting etc.
What is the importance of PII in SCAMPI?PII is acronym for Practice Implementation Indicators. They are pieces of evidence that a particular CMMI practice will leave evidence that it has been performed. It could be a document, a spreadsheet, or any artifact. The appraiser looks for PII for assessment. There are 3 types of PII:
Direct artifacts: tangible outputs resulting from implementation of a process or practice.
Indirect artifacts: Artifacts that are results of performing a specific practice that substantiate its implementation.
Affirmations: Oral or written statements of a specific practice. They are often provided by the implementers of the practice or other stakeholders.
How is Appraisal done in CMMI?The SCAMPI provides a well defined set of methods that provide ways to perform appraisal using CMMI models. It has a wide range of modes which include internal process improvement and external capability finding methodologies. SCAMPI processes help in identifying the strength and weaknesses of current practices and processes, and determine ratings. The appraisal method includes preliminary observations, findings and ratings, reporting and other activities. It allows for determining that the quality of products has increased and also provides better predictability for effort and time needed for future developments. Usually, a lead appraiser is hired based on knowledge, culture, experience and enthusiasm towards process improvement.
What is DAR (Decision Analysis and Resolution)?To analyze possible decisions by using a formal evaluation process which identifies the alternatives against established criteria is done by the DAR. For example a project is to use a third party tools and will not depend on only one tool but evaluate by using three to four tools. In this process certain alternatives are available in case of problems.
What is CAR (Causal Analysis and Resolution)?Casual Analysis and Resolution is the process of analyzing
- defects, problems and good practices/positive triggers in a project.
- Root cause of the same
- Identity the respective corrective and preventive actions
- Tracking these tasks to closure.
The identification of the root causes scientifically and carrying out their corrective and preventive actions is the advantage of CAR. At the initial stage, all phase and at the end stage of the project, the CAR is needed to be performed on a monthly basis. CAR can be done by using ‘fishbone’ diagram.
What are function points?In order to express the amount of business functionality of an information system, a function point is used as a unit of measurement.
There is International Function Point Users Group in US based organization of users of the software metric Function Point Analysis
Every function point is a unit of measure used by IFPUG functional size measurement method.
The IFPUG FSM is one of the currently recognized standards of ISO for functionally sizing software.
What are the different elements in Functions points?The elements in functions points are:
What is Pareto Analysis?A statistical technique for making decisions which is used for selecting a limited number of tasks which produce significant overall effect. Pareto Analysis uses the ‘Pareto Principle’ – an idea by which 80% of doing the entire job is generated by doing 20% of the work.When many possible courses of actions are completing the attention, the technique ‘Pareto Analysis’ is useful. In essence, the delivered benefit by each action is estimated by problem-solver, and selects the number of most effective actions which delivers the total benefit.
What is Fish Bone Diagram? Or Explain Ishikawa DiagramFish Bone Diagram is also called Ishikawa Diagram or Cause and Effect Diagram.
It is called Fish Bone Diagram because of its structure.
Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa invented it so it is called Ishikawa Diagram.
It performs the job of analyzing the causes and their effects pertaining to the Project. So, it is called Cause and Effect Diagram.
It helps in identifying the potential causes of problems and finally the root cause which make a difference on the performance of the project. This helps in finding the solutions to the problems which have affected the performance of the last project.
What is Six Sigma?It is a methodology and set of tools for the measurement of process quality. It demonstrates that the business process is well controlled. Six Sigma level can be achieved when the accuracy of your process gets only 3.4 defects per million opportunities.
Here’s the list of acceptable number of defects per million to correspond to each Sigma level:
Sigma level Defects per million opportunities
1 690,000
2 308,537
3 66,807
4 6,210
5 233
6 3.4
Who forms the part of Six Sigma implementation team?
Attaining Six Sigma is a team effort. An organization who wants to attain Six Sigma needs a lot of restructuring and change in attitude. It includes building up the following roles to take up the required responsibilities:
1. Executive Leadership-Includes CEO and other top management team members. They set up the vision of Six Sigma and empower their team mates with the freedom and resources required for the improvements in the process.
2. Champions- Responsible for the implementation of the process in an integrated manner through out the organization. They come from Top management.
3. Master Black Belts-Act as in-house expert coach for the organization. They assist Champions and train Black Belts and Green Belts.
4. Black Belts-Apply Six Sigma methodology to specific projects. Their focus is on execution of activities for Six Sigma.
5. Green Belts-These are like the soldiers on the war front who actually implement the planned action
Staged Model:
The staged model has groups of process areas which are divided into 5 levels. This stage is used by the ancestor software development CMM. It is represented to achieve a CMMI Level Rating from a SCAMPI appraisal.
Continuous Model:
The continuous representation, used by the ancestor systems engineering CMM, is defined as the capability levels within each profile.
In CMMI, process areas can be either of the 2 types:
continuous or staged representation. In Continuous representation, process areas are the summary components. Every process area then has specific goals that are implemented using best practices. It also includes generic goals and generic practices to achieve them. The individual process areas refer to specific goals and practices whereas the generic ones apply to multiple goals. In staged representation, summary components are the maturity levels. Every maturity level has process areas, with their goals and practices. Practices are categorized into common features:
a. Commitment to perform
b. Ability to perform
c. Activities performed
d. Directing implementation
e. Verifying implementation
Explain capability levels in continous representation.In CMMI models there are six capability levels which are designated by the digits from 0 to 5
Capability Level 0: Incomplete
It is a process which is not performed fully or partially. One or more specific goals of the process area would not be satisfied and generic goals do not exist for this level.
Capability Level 1: Performed
This level is expected for performing all the level specific practices. Stable or non-met specific objectives such as quality, cost, and schedule may not be performed well, but the work done is useful. Something is done but could not prove that it will really work for.
Capability Level 2: Managed
It is a process which is planned, performed, monitored and controlled for individual projects or groups or could be stand-alone processes for achieving a given need. Both the model objectives for the process and other related objectives like cost, schedule and quality are managed in this process. The things that are to be managed in an enterprise are managed actively in this level. There are certain metrics which are to be collected consistently and applied for management approach.
Capability Level 3: Defined
This process is characterized as a “well defined process”. It is referred as a managed process which is tailored for the standards of the organization as per the tailoring guidelines of the organization and the work products, measures and other process related improvement information are contributed.
Capability Level 4: Quantitatively Managed
This process is defined as a process which is properly controlled using statistical and other quantitative techniques. Quality and process performance are established and utilized as the major criteria in process management. The quality of process performance is estimated in statistical terms. This quality is managed throughout the process life cycle.
Capability Level 5: Optimizing
It is a quantitatively managed process which is improved that is based on an understanding the process variation inherent cause in the process. The focus is on continually improving the performance of the process by both incremental and innovative improvements. The target of these processes is activities improvement..
What is SCAMPI process?SCAMPI stands for Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement. Bench mark quality ratings are provided by it which is relative to Capability Maturity Model Integration models. Wide range of appraisal usage models are utilized by applying SCAMPI process, including internal process improvement and external capability determinations. All of the Appraisal Requirements for CMMI (ARC) requirements for a Class A appraisal method is satisfied by SCAMPI and it supports the assessment conduct of ISO/IEC 15504.
What is the importance of PII in SCAMPI?The Practice Implementation Indicators is based on the fundamental idea of the assumption that the performance of an activity or the implementation of a practice will always results in “footprints” those are attributable to the activity or the practice.
Explain the different Process Area in CMMI.The following are the different process areas in CMMI:
1. Initial Process: This process involves in software configuration management, software quality assurance, software subcontract management, software project tracking and oversight, software project planning and requirements management.
2. Defined Process: This process involves in peer reviews, intergroup coordination, software product engineering, integrated software management, training program, organization process definition, organization process focus.
3. Managed Process: This process involves in software quality management, quantitative process management
4. Optimizing Process: Process change management, technology change management, and defect preventionProject Management Concepts: This consists of Project planning, Project monitoring and control, Risk Management, Process and product quality assurance, Configuration management, Supplier agreement management, Integrated supplier management, Measurement analysis,
Engineering Concepts: This includes Requirements development, Technical solution, Requirements management, Product integration, Verification, Validation, Decision analysis and resolution.
Process Management concepts: This includes Organizational process definition, Integrate project management.
Integrated teaming concepts: This includes integrated project management, Organizational environment for integration, and integrated teaming.
Quantitative management concepts: This includes Quantitative project and process management.
Optimizing concepts: This includes Causal analysis and resolution, Organizational innovation and deployment.
What is CMMI? Explain the advantages of implementing CMMI.Capability maturity model integration is a process improvement approach for organizations to comply and maintain quality and process improvement. It helps organizations to integrate separate functions, set goals and priorities, provide guidance, and assess current processes.
Advantages of implementing CMMI:
a. Detailed coverage of the product life cycle than other process-improvement products used alone.
b. CMMI provides an opportunity to eliminate the stovepipes and barriers that typically exist in different parts of an organization and that typically are not addressed otherwise
c. CMMI products incorporate lessons learnt that were learnt as a result of many other standard processes. Therefore they inherently, handle some of the common problems faced by other process improvement approaches.
d. Promotes collaboration between systems and software engineering.
e. Allows users to choose model representation that best suits them and their objectives.
Explain the different Models in CMMI.Different CMMI models are:
CMMI for Development: Describes Product and service for development processes. An organization usually does not build everything it needs for build a product. It builds some elements and acquires some to build a product. CMMI for development includes processes to manage this. It also includes best practices that address development process.
CMMI for Acquisition: Describe Product and service acquisition processes. It defines processes that provide guidance to acquisition organizations for managing acquisitions of products and services. It enlists the processes needed for acquisitions and integrates various knowledge bodies that are needed.
CMMI for Services: Describe Service establishment, management, and delivery processes. Includes guides to reduce costs, improve quality and predictability. Guides organizations to define what services they should be providing, define standards, let the world know about them. Explain the SCAMPI Process.Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement. The SCAMPI process is designed to provide milestone quality ratings in reference to CMMI models. It’s widely applicable to appraisal usage modes, including internal process improvement and also external capability determinations. It satisfies all appraisal requirements for CMMI requirement for Class A appraisal method. It describes requirements, activities, and practices related to processes that make the SCAMPI method. They are often used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current processes, reveal risks. It defines the appraisal process consisting of monitoring in-site activities, preliminary observations, findings & ratings, reporting etc.
What is the importance of PII in SCAMPI?PII is acronym for Practice Implementation Indicators. They are pieces of evidence that a particular CMMI practice will leave evidence that it has been performed. It could be a document, a spreadsheet, or any artifact. The appraiser looks for PII for assessment. There are 3 types of PII:
Direct artifacts: tangible outputs resulting from implementation of a process or practice.
Indirect artifacts: Artifacts that are results of performing a specific practice that substantiate its implementation.
Affirmations: Oral or written statements of a specific practice. They are often provided by the implementers of the practice or other stakeholders.
How is Appraisal done in CMMI?The SCAMPI provides a well defined set of methods that provide ways to perform appraisal using CMMI models. It has a wide range of modes which include internal process improvement and external capability finding methodologies. SCAMPI processes help in identifying the strength and weaknesses of current practices and processes, and determine ratings. The appraisal method includes preliminary observations, findings and ratings, reporting and other activities. It allows for determining that the quality of products has increased and also provides better predictability for effort and time needed for future developments. Usually, a lead appraiser is hired based on knowledge, culture, experience and enthusiasm towards process improvement.
What is DAR (Decision Analysis and Resolution)?To analyze possible decisions by using a formal evaluation process which identifies the alternatives against established criteria is done by the DAR. For example a project is to use a third party tools and will not depend on only one tool but evaluate by using three to four tools. In this process certain alternatives are available in case of problems.
What is CAR (Causal Analysis and Resolution)?Casual Analysis and Resolution is the process of analyzing
- defects, problems and good practices/positive triggers in a project.
- Root cause of the same
- Identity the respective corrective and preventive actions
- Tracking these tasks to closure.
The identification of the root causes scientifically and carrying out their corrective and preventive actions is the advantage of CAR. At the initial stage, all phase and at the end stage of the project, the CAR is needed to be performed on a monthly basis. CAR can be done by using ‘fishbone’ diagram.
What are function points?In order to express the amount of business functionality of an information system, a function point is used as a unit of measurement.
There is International Function Point Users Group in US based organization of users of the software metric Function Point Analysis
Every function point is a unit of measure used by IFPUG functional size measurement method.
The IFPUG FSM is one of the currently recognized standards of ISO for functionally sizing software.
What are the different elements in Functions points?The elements in functions points are:
- External Inputs: It is an elementary process which allows the data to cross the boundary from outside to inside.
- External Outputs: A elementary process which allows the data passes across the boundary from inside to outside
- External Inquiry: It is an elementary process which has both input and output components which results data retrieval from one or more internal logical files and external interface files.
- Internal Logical Files: An identifiable group of logically related data that resides entirely within the applications boundary and is maintained through external inputs.
- External Interface Files: An identifiable group of logically related data that is used only for reference purpose. The data is completely persisted outside the application and is maintained by another application.
What is Pareto Analysis?A statistical technique for making decisions which is used for selecting a limited number of tasks which produce significant overall effect. Pareto Analysis uses the ‘Pareto Principle’ – an idea by which 80% of doing the entire job is generated by doing 20% of the work.When many possible courses of actions are completing the attention, the technique ‘Pareto Analysis’ is useful. In essence, the delivered benefit by each action is estimated by problem-solver, and selects the number of most effective actions which delivers the total benefit.
What is Fish Bone Diagram? Or Explain Ishikawa DiagramFish Bone Diagram is also called Ishikawa Diagram or Cause and Effect Diagram.
It is called Fish Bone Diagram because of its structure.
Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa invented it so it is called Ishikawa Diagram.
It performs the job of analyzing the causes and their effects pertaining to the Project. So, it is called Cause and Effect Diagram.
It helps in identifying the potential causes of problems and finally the root cause which make a difference on the performance of the project. This helps in finding the solutions to the problems which have affected the performance of the last project.
What is Six Sigma?It is a methodology and set of tools for the measurement of process quality. It demonstrates that the business process is well controlled. Six Sigma level can be achieved when the accuracy of your process gets only 3.4 defects per million opportunities.
Here’s the list of acceptable number of defects per million to correspond to each Sigma level:
Sigma level Defects per million opportunities
1 690,000
2 308,537
3 66,807
4 6,210
5 233
6 3.4
Who forms the part of Six Sigma implementation team?
Attaining Six Sigma is a team effort. An organization who wants to attain Six Sigma needs a lot of restructuring and change in attitude. It includes building up the following roles to take up the required responsibilities:
1. Executive Leadership-Includes CEO and other top management team members. They set up the vision of Six Sigma and empower their team mates with the freedom and resources required for the improvements in the process.
2. Champions- Responsible for the implementation of the process in an integrated manner through out the organization. They come from Top management.
3. Master Black Belts-Act as in-house expert coach for the organization. They assist Champions and train Black Belts and Green Belts.
4. Black Belts-Apply Six Sigma methodology to specific projects. Their focus is on execution of activities for Six Sigma.
5. Green Belts-These are like the soldiers on the war front who actually implement the planned action