Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI)

The SCAMPI method is also designed to prioritize and satisfy certain essential characteristics,
which were obtained via community feedback and are summarized in Table I-6. These
have been used as the rationale for key method architecture and design decisions, which are
described in this overview and throughout the MDD.
Table I-6: Essential Characteristics of the SCAMPI Method
Characteristic
Accuracy
Repeatability
Cost/Resource
Effectiveness
Meaningfulness
of Results
ARC Compliance
Explanation
Ratings are truly reflective of the organization’s maturity/capability,
reflect the reference model, and can be used for comparison across organizations.
Appraisal results reflect the strengths and weaknesses of the appraised
organization (i.e., no significant strengths and weaknesses are left undiscovered).
Ratings and findings of an appraisal are likely to be consistent with
those of another independent appraisal conducted under comparable
conditions (i.e., another appraisal of identical scope will produce consistent
results).
The appraisal method is efficient in terms of person-hours spent planning,
preparing, and executing an appraisal.
The method takes account of the organizational investment in obtaining
the appraisal results, including the resources of the host organization,
the impact on appraised projects, and the appraisal team.
Appraisal results are useful to the appraisal sponsor in supporting decision
making. This may include application of the appraisal results in the
context of internal process improvement, supplier selection, or process
monitoring.
SCAMPI is a Class A method and complies with all ARC requirements.
Modes of Usage
As used in the CMMI Product Suite materials, an appraisal is an examination of one or more
processes by a trained team of professionals using an appraisal reference model as the basis
for determining strengths and weaknesses. An appraisal is typically conducted in the context
of process improvement or capability evaluation. The term “appraisal” is a generic term used
throughout the CMMI Product Suite to describe applications in these contexts, traditionally
known as assessments and evaluations.
The basic difference between an assessment and an evaluation is that an assessment is an appraisal
that an organization does to and for itself for the purposes of process improvement.
Assessments provide internal motivation for organizations to initiate or continue process improvement
programs. An evaluation is an appraisal in which an external group comes into an
I-16 CMU/SEI-2001-HB-001