Book:
| | | |  | | CMMI : Guidelines for Process Integration and Product Improvement
| Author: Konrad, Shrum and Chrissis | | Pages: 688 | Published: 2003 | | Publisher: Addison Wesley | ISBN: 0321154967 | 
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| | | | Topics: Process Improvement
| | Description:
(From the Back Cover)
Many organizations use Capability Maturity Models® (CMMs®) to assess development and maintenance processes, implement improvements, and measure progress. Although consistent in purpose, these models differ in terminology and design--enough sometimes to cause conflict and confusion when used within the same organization. Addressing the need for a more coordinated approach, Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI®) provides a single framework for improvement in software engineering, systems engineering, integrated product and process development, and supplier sourcing.
This book is the definitive reference for the most current release of CMMI models. To use a CMMI model available on the SEI Web site, users must choose from among multiple models based on their organization's improvement needs. This book provides a single source for all CMMI model information. Readers can get started without having to select a model first--all of the choices are compiled in one place and explained in detail.
The book begins with background information needed to understand the content and structure of these integrated models and how to use them. A case study illustrates their implementation in a real environment. A variety of practical material, such as glossary and index, is also provided. The bulk of the book comprises the content of all CMMI models, covering the twenty-five process areas (PAs) that span the product life cycle, including detailed best practices.
All CMMI models have two representations. The continuous representation allows an organization to improve using selected PAs at different rates. The staged representation enables organizations to follow a predefined and proven improvement path using multiple PAs. Both representations are described so that readers will more clearly see the similarities and differences between the two representations and will be able to choose the right approach for their organization.
Whether you are new to CMMI or are already familiar with some version of it, this book is an essential resource for managers, practitioners, and process improvement team members who need to understand, evaluate, and/or implement a CMMI model. The ultimate objective of CMMI is integrating processes to improve products; this book contains everything you need to get that done.
| | | | | Review by Tilmann Bruckhaus, Ph.D. Tilmann.Bruckhaus@Sun.Com
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Process improvement is relevant to any organization where many people work together to create complex products of high quality. One of the most well known and widely used process improvement frameworks is the CMMI and its cousins, the CMM for Software (SW-CMM), the Systems Engineering Capability Model (SECM), and the Integrated Product Development Capability Maturity Model (IPD-CMM).
CMMI: Guidelines for Process Integration presents the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) framework for process improvement. The book touches on many topics including how an organization should document its processes, activities, and outputs; how the process should be measured for understanding and improvement; and in what order process improvement opportunities should be tackled. It also explains which activities should be part of the process and how these activities relate to each other.
This book offers an internal perspective on the CMMI where the authors focus on the evolution, structure, contents, and organization of the CMMI. The writing style of this book is prescriptive, factual, and sober. The authors approach the subject matter in a systematic fashion. This organized approach results in a comprehensive collection of information that can be used as a reference.
Part 1 discusses the evolution, organization, and terminology of the CMMI and explains its relationship to software and systems engineering, and its role in process improvement. Part 1 is presented in a narrative style and is supported by about two dozen diagrams and tables as well as a case study.
One of the topics receiving much attention in this book is the matter of how the CMMI content is presented. The authors use two different presentation methods called "continuous" and "staged." Part 2 of the book delivers both representations of the CMMI content in a combined format. To use one of the two formats, the reader has to skip certain shaded sections and watch the book margins to identify which sections are relevant to the presentation he is following. This complex presentation of the material somewhat diverts attention away from the content.
This book is best suited for readers who have already decided to use CMMI. CMMI users will find this book to be a rich source of detailed information about the structure, contents, and application of the CMMI. Such readers can use this book as a reference, and they can also learn about the thought processes that lead to the creation of the CMMI and about the reasoning for the particular structure of the CMMI.
In contrast to other publications about process improvement, this book does not concern itself with analyzing the problems organizations are facing with product development. It does not provide arguments for or against particular approaches to process improvement, or data supporting the effectiveness of process improvement frameworks.
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