Systematic process improvement using ISO 9001:2000 and CMMI

6.1 Differences between the CMM ® and CMMI ® 171
Similar to the TS PA, PI has to be evaluated in the context of the CMMI ®
as a whole.
Verification (VER) and Validation (VAL)
The VER and VAL PAs in the CMMI ® are based on SPE activity 7, 13 and most
of the peer review KPA. Although verification and validation are similar and
are often confused, they address different aspects of the development process.
Verification confirms that work products properly implement specified
requirements, whereas validation confirms that the product will fulfill its
intended use [2]. SG 2, Perform Peer Reviews, in the VER PA is directly related
to the Peer Review KPA of the CMM ® . Likewise, the specific practices associated
with the other two goals, SG 1, Prepare for Verification, and SG 3, Verify
Selected Work Products, are quite similar to key practices in SPE. As noted
earlier for the TS and PI PAs, CMM ® key practices rely on the project’s
defined process, whereas the CMMI ® lists specific activities that are required
for verifying products or components. The VAL PA is similar in structure to
VER and also has roots in activity 7 of the SPE KPA. Organizations transitioning
to CMMI ® level 3 may find that they require more rigor than is
required in the CMM ® when implementing these two PAs.
6.1.4 Maturity level 4 PAs
Maturity level 4 contains two PAs: OPP and QPM. Those PAs address processes
that are quantitatively managed, where quantitative objectives for
product quality and process performance are established and used for managing
the processes through the life cycle. These processes must be understood
in statistical terms. Figure 6.5 shows a comparison of the CMM ® and CMMI ®
maturity level 4 and 5 PAs.
Organizational Process Performance (OPP) This PA strengthens the
CMM ® ’s notion of quantitative process management at the organizational
level. In the CMM ® , most of the key practices in the QPM KPA deal with a
project’s processes. In the CMMI ® , the emphasis is on the organization’s set
of standard processes. The measurements collected from various projects are
analyzed to establish a process performance baseline and the expected range
of results. This baseline is then used when the individual project’s process
performance expectations, including quality objectives, are defined.
13.SPE.AC.7: ‘‘System and acceptance testing of the software is planned and performed to demonstrate that the
software satisfies its requirements.’’