Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI)

2.4.2a Determine Process Area Capability Level (continued)
Optional
Practices
Implementation
Guidance
The rating of PA capability levels may be carried out top down or bottom up,
as described below.
The bottom up approach uses the following sequence:
• Judge whether or not the PA can be considered to be at capability level 1,
based on the satisfaction of specific and generic goals. In this case, only
the base practices would be considered in rating goals.
• Judge whether or not the PA can be considered to be at capability level 2,
based on the satisfaction of specific and generic goals. In this case, the
advanced practices for capability level 2 must be considered in rating the
goals of the Engineering PAs.
• Proceed incrementally until the team reaches a point at which the goals
cannot be rated as satisfied.
The top down approach uses the following sequence:
• Begin at the highest desired capability level (which was determined
during appraisal planning) and judge whether or not the PA can be
considered to be operating at that capability level.
• If the PA is not at the highest desired capability level, consider whether or
not it can be judged to be operating at the next lower level.
• Proceed incrementally until the team reaches a point at which all of the
relevant goals are rated as satisfied, or goal ratings lead to capability level
0.
The presence of advanced practices in the Engineering PAs creates a nuance
in the rating process that can be complicated for some appraisal team
members. If team members have only worked with the staged representation
in the past, it is important that the appraisal team leader covers this nuance
during team training, and prevents confusion during the rating process.
Goal satisfaction is a judgment based on the implementation of practices that
map to the goal. In rating the satisfaction of specific goals in the Engineering
PAs, the set of specific practices that relates to the goals differs for capability
levels 0, 1, 2, and 3 through 5. That is, depending on the capability level at
which the rating is performed, there are up to 4 unique sets of specific
practices associated with these specific goals that must be considered.
The appraisal team leader is responsible for selecting one of the two optional
rating approaches described above, and should facilitate this session carefully
to prevent confusion among team members.
CMU/SEI-2001-HB-001
Page II-117