Process Improvement with CMMI (R) V1.2 and ISO Standards

Book excerpt: In this age of globalization, process improvement practitioners must be able to comprehend and work with the different standards and frameworks used around the world. While many systems and software engineering organizations rely on a single standard as the primary driver of process improvement efforts (CMMI(R)-based process improvement in the U.S. and ISO 9001 around the world), the most successful incorporate multiple frameworks. Process Improvement with CMMI(R) v1.2 and ISO Standards helps users become more versatile in using multiple process standards when creating organizational and project processes. Compares and Contrasts Different Standards The book begins by discussing the motivations for process improvement, the factors that make improvement difficult, and the conditions and activities that enable improvement. It examines the structure and content of Capability Maturity Model IntegrationSM, version 1.2, provides summaries of several ISO standards, and discusses the detailed relationships between four specific ISO standards (ISO 9001, ISO 15288, ISO 12207, and ISO 20000) and CMMI. The book concludes by addressing the synergy and use of multiple frameworks, discussing the process of conducting appraisals against multiple frameworks, and examining the collection of objective evidence required by each standard and appraisal method. The authors also discuss similarities and differences among the appraisal and certification approaches. Free Downloads This volume is highly supplemented with numerous appendices to clarify material and a website is provided where readers can download detailed maps and corresponding correlation matrices. This bonus material allows users to further experiment with the framework relationships and be more equipped to deal with the myriad of standards and frameworks they may encounter.