Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI)

1.5 Prepare for Collection of Objective Evidence (continued)
Key Points
Tools and
Techniques
The data collected is the most important input the team receives. Careful
planning, disciplined tracking against the plan, and effective corrective
actions are cornerstones to success in this process.
The use of a spreadsheet to record and track the data collection plan is a
common technique. A matrix showing the practices of the model, or questions
to be asked, arrayed on the vertical axis and the sources of information
arrayed on the horizontal axis provides a simple planning and tracking tool. A
number of vendor-provided data management tools are available as well.
Metrics • Estimated and tracked calendar time and effort for this activity
• Planned and actual number of data sources per practice
• Planned and tracked number of scripted questions per interview
• Planned and tracked number of scripted questions per PA
• Percentage of planned coverage achieved, per data collection event or PA
Verification and
Validation
Records
Tailoring
The data collection plan should be summarized and reviewed with the team to
ensure that appraisal requirements will be successfully implemented if the
plan is carried forward. Experienced Lead Appraisers will use historical data
to assess the feasibility of (and risks associated with) the data collection plan.
Planned and actual coverage of practices and PAs across the set of data
collection activities should be recorded. These data support future estimates
and corrective actions during the data collection activities.
Replanning is performed only when the status of the appraisal conduct
indicates the need to do so.
Additional planning and coordination steps may be necessary in usage modes
where data collection activities will occur at geographically distributed sites
or across organizational units from different corporations (such as in a
Supplier Selection usage mode).
SCAMPI allows great flexibility in formulating strategies to accomplish the
necessary data collection. The relative emphasis of different data sources, as
well as data types, can be tuned to support appraisal objectives relating to
buy-in as well as coverage and rigor for important areas.
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CMU/SEI-2001-HB-001