Systematic process improvement using ISO 9001:2000 and CMMI

6.3 Transitioning from the CMM ® to the CMMI ® 185
because GG 3, Institutionalize a Defined Process, subsumes the IPM PA for its
successful implementation.
Institutionalization approach—continuous representation: a variant
A variant of this approach is the one that capitalizes on implementation of
organizational standard processes. A process at capability level 3, Defined, is
tailored from the organizational set of standard processes, using tailoring
guidelines, and is described in more detail than the managed process (capability
level 2). This specifically helps organizations interested in minimizing
variation in process performance across the projects and in efficiently implementing
well-described processes on multiple projects.
By now we know that every PA has a generic goal, GG 3, Institutionalize
a Defined Process, with two associated generic practices, GP 3.1, Establish a
Defined Process, and GP 3.2, Collect Improvement Information. Theoretically, one
can raise each PA to capability level 3 by implementing all GPs at levels 1,
2, and 3. This, however, is not the most efficient or optimal approach.
Bringing PAs to capability level 3 may not yield an integrated, defined process.
GP 3.1 requires implementation of some aspects of the OPD PA. OPD requires
establishing organizational standard processes, including descriptions of the
life-cycle models and tailoring guidelines. It also requires establishing a
process asset library and database for storing various work products, measurements,
lessons learned, and indications of improvements to the organizational
process assets. By performing these activities, an organization will
avoid revisiting and revising all PAs when attempting to achieve higher level
capabilities. Effective process assets can be generated that will support the
process elements needed to implement other PAs. In other words, the OPD
PA enables the capability level 3 GPs.
The IPM PA also supports GP 3.1 and GP 3.2. IPM is based on the notion
of the defined process, which is a tailored version of the organizational
standard process. Through development of the defined process, IPM integrates
the project management, engineering, and support PAs.
When an organization reaches capability level 3, it starts to realize the
benefits of process improvements.
As noted previously, the OPF PA addresses activities crucial in establishing
the process infrastructure, such as forming a management steering committee,
forming the engineering process group, and selecting process owners to
manage process deployment. OPF also requires organizations to define
process needs, appraise processes and develop a process improvement
plan—activities that are part of IDEAL SM phases 1 and 2, as described in
Chapter 2.