Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI)

23. Data from these sources are collected and considered in several discrete data-gathering
sessions, either as integrated appraisal team activities or by subsets of the team organized into
mini-teams operating in parallel. Mini-teams are typically organized around related process
areas, with mini-team members assigned by the appraisal team leader on the basis of their
individual experience, knowledge, and skills.
The SCAMPI data transformation and rating process is depicted in Figure I-2.
Level of
Consensus
Capability Level and/or
Maturity Level Ratings
Full Team
Goal Satisfaction Ratings
Practice Implementation Characterizations
(organizational unit level)
Full Team
Full Team
Practice Implementation Characterizations
(practice instantiation level)
Mini-Team
Figure I-2: SCAMPI Rating Process
Team members review objective evidence provided by the organizational unit and identify
PIIs relative to the reference model practices. These PIIs are categorized as direct artifacts,
indirect artifacts, or affirmations, as described in “Practice Implementation Indicators” on
page I-24, and are added to the team’s PII inventory.
Areas of significant strength or weakness observed relative to the implementation of model
specific or generic practices are recorded in written observations. Observations are generated
primarily for weaknesses, or “gaps,” of the implementation compared to the intent of a model
practice. Observations of strengths should be reserved for implemented practices that are particularly
effective and are candidates for inclusion in aggregated findings. “Gratuitous”
strengths that simply reflect a sufficient implementation of a practice can produce substantial
data management overhead that does not contribute toward generation of findings; these are
more effectively captured as indicators in the appraisal team’s PII inventory. Observations
may also be generated for alternative practices, which are acceptable alternatives to implementing
one or more model practices that contribute equivalently to the satisfaction of process
area goals.
CMU/SEI-2001-HB-001 I-27