Getting Started with SEI CMMI

The capability levels of a process area are achieved by the application of generic practices to the processes associated with that process area.

Understanding Capability Levels:
For the use of continuous representation, the CMMI models show capability levels in their content and as well as in design.

The six capability levels are listed below:

• 0 - Incomplete
• 1 - Performed
• 2 - Managed
• 3 - Defined
• 4 - Quantitatively Managed
• 5 - Optimizing

Capability Level 0-Incomplete:

An incomplete process is a process that is partially performed or not performed. More than one specific goals of the process area are not satisfied and no generic goals exist to this level.

Capability Level 1-Performed:

It is a performed process. A performed process is a process that completes the needed work to produce work products. If the improvement are not institutionalized the capability level-1 results could be lost over time. The institutionalization is needed to ensure that improvements are maintained.

Capability Level 2-Managed:

It is characterized as a managed process. This process is performed that is executed according to the plan and policy and skilled employees having resource to produce output.

Capability Level 3-Defined:

It is a defined process. This defined process is a managed process that is modified from the organization’s group of standard processes according to the organization’s modifying guidelines; it has a maintained description of process and also contributes process related to the organizational process assets.

In the capability level 3 processes are described rigorously than at capability level-2. A defined process, states the purpose, inputs, roles, measures, entry criteria, exit criteria, verification steps and outputs. In the capability level-3, processes are managed proactively using an understanding of the interrelationships of the process activities.

Capability Level 4-Quantitatively Managed:

Companies at level-4 would have established measurable process goals for each process. These measurements are quantitatively collected and analyzed. At this level, future IT implementation performance of the companies can begin to predict.

The managing criteria for the process are Quantitative objectives for quality and process performance. Statistical terms and is managed throughout the life of the process to analyses Quality and process performance.

Capability Level 5-Optimizing:

It focuses on studying performance results within the organization to find causes of problems in how the work is done and fixing it. The fix will be include updating the process documentation and along with training involved where the errors were injected.

Organization of Process Areas in Continuous Representation: