Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI)

lyze Preliminary Objective Evidence process. The more complete and comprehensive this
early data collection and analysis is, the better prepared the organizational unit will be for the
appraisal.
These preliminary information needs can provide the foundation of the data collection plan
for the remainder of the appraisal process. They also provide the foundation for the readiness
review and any necessary adjustments in the appraisal plan, providing a clearer set of initial
expectations for the magnitude of the appraisal effort. Data gaps found can result in additional
document requests and other data collection plans. These activities are performed as an
early part of the Prepare for Collection of Objective Evidence process.
Continuous Consolidation and Tracking
Following the initial focused investigation effort, a data collection plan is developed and followed.
Data collection activities are described by the Examine Objective Evidence process.
This process typically consists of planned data collection activities that include presentations,
document reviews, and interviews.
As these data collection activities are performed, practice characterization and strengths and
weaknesses are recorded and added to the existing objective evidence inventory, and continuously
reviewed (see the Verify and Validate Objective Evidence and Document Objective
Evidence processes). Additional data collected is added and consolidated with the data already
collected to continuously provide the assessment team with a view of their progress
against the data collection plan and model coverage. This is referred to as “continuous consolidation.”
Monitoring and controlling the data collection plan and model coverage is an essential aspect of
performing focused investigation and continuous consolidation. The appraisal team must be
able to record, monitor, and track progress against the data collection plan. This may be done in
several ways, but generally requires the use of some mechanism for recording the progress towards
determining practice characterization for each reference model practice within the scope
of the appraisal. As data is collected for each practice, and for each sample instantiation of the
organizational unit being appraised, it is also useful to have some mechanism for easily comparing
and consolidating practice implementation. Instruments and automated tools that support
the Conduct Appraisal phase of the appraisal can greatly facilitate this.
Perhaps the most important feature of focused investigation is the appraisal team’s awareness
of its status regarding determination of practice characterization and goal satisfaction. The
team continually maintains an understanding of how the data collected supports the implementation
of each practice for each instantiation of the organizational unit, and what additional
objective evidence is needed. This allows the team to update the data collection plan to
optimally refocus their efforts during the data collection activities.
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CMU/SEI-2001-HB-001