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CMMI® (Capability Maturity Model® Integration) describes best practices for the development and maintenance of products and services across their entire lifecycle. By integrating essential bodies of knowledge, CMMI provides a single, comprehensive framework for organizations to assess their development and maintenance processes, implement improvements, and measure progress.

This book is a definitive reference for the most current release of CMMI (version 1.2). In the new edition, the authors have added tips, hints, and cross-references in the margins (in color) throughout the process areas to help you better understand, apply, and find more information about the content of the process areas. The book also now includes brief, insightful perspectives on CMMI written by people influential in the model’s creation, development, and transition. A new case study from Raytheon illustrates a real-world application of the model to a services organization. Whether you are new to CMMI or familiar with an earlier version, if you need to know about, evaluate, or put the latest version of CMMI into practice, this book is an essential resource.

The book is divided into three parts.

Part I offers the broad view of CMMI, beginning with basic concepts of process improvement. It describes the process areas, their components, and their relationships to each other. It explains the model’s two representations as well as paths to the adoption and use of CMMI for process improvement and benchmarking.

Part II, the bulk of the book, details the generic goals and practices and the twenty-two process areas now comprising CMMI. The process areas are organized alphabetically by acronym for easy look-up. Each chapter includes goals, best practices, and examples for a particular process area. The two CMMI representations are described so that you will easily see their similarities and differences and thereby be better able to choose the right approach for your organization.

Part III contains several useful resources, including CMMI-related references, acronym definitions, a glossary of terms, and an index.

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Praise for CMMI® Survival Guide

"Traveling down the CMMI road can be difficult and time-consuming Garcia and Turner have given us a practical roadmap that addresses the key points to learn as well as the many potholes to avoid. Their Survival Guide is a most valuable resource for the journey. It will help immeasurably in achieving the process improvement that you seek."

—Dr. Howard Eisner, Distinguished Research Professor, George Washington University

"Helps you get to the 'red meat' of the CMMI quickly and with minimum pain."

—Donald J. Reifer, President, Reifer Consultants, Inc.

"The best words I can offer potential readers is that you must have this book, not on your shelf, but with you for repeated reading to glean new ideas or reinforce old ones you gained from the past readings. If you have ever been directly involved in a process improvement initiative or if you are starting one, this book can only help you to do a better job. And while [the authors] may not have written this book explicitly for experienced consultants, I found it a great reference even for those of us who helped start this industry, because it provides clear and useful answers to those tough questions we are asked all of the time."

—Tim Kasse, CEO and Principal Consultant, Kasse Initiatives LLC

"This book contains practical (working) tips for the 'getting started' phase of process improvement, which is the hardest one in the road to improving one's processes."

—Agapi Svolou, Principal of Alexanna, LLC, and SEI CMMI Transition Partner

"The authors have done an outstanding job in providing guidance for process improvement from a practical perspective. Instead of focusing on a single technique or approach, they have provided a variety of methods for process improvement implementation and have framed their discussion with rich context from lessons learned. The concepts described in this book will be useful to both those starting CMMI implementations and to those who are well into their journey but are still looking for ways to lessen the pain and provide value-added improvements. Reading the book is like being in the audience during a live presentation by SuZ and Rich—they wrote the book as they would present the information to a live audience."

—Bill Craig, Director, Software Engineering Directorate, AMRDEC, RDECOM

"I have been involved in process improvement since the early 90's and many of the mistakes that I made could have been prevented if this book had been available then."

—Claude Y. Laporte, Professor, ETS Universite du Quebec

"Primarily, the book is practical. The guidance presented is geared toward someone who is not exactly sure why they need process improvement, but is presented with the fact that they must do it. Very often these are smaller organizations, with limited resources, and uncertain support from above. As I read the book, I thought almost immediately of a couple of organizations with which I am familiar who could use this kind of tutelage. There are real, and useful, techniques in this book that I believe can help these kinds of organizations prioritize and establish reasonable plans for improving the processes in the organization. I also like the sidebars and personal observations. Discussions of experience can really help organizations through the various pitfalls that are part of developing and deploying processes. It makes the book more of a 'real life' guide, and not a theoretical exercise. Finally, the book is an enjoyable read. The conversational style of the book (and the humor) make it much easier to read than many of the books I have read in the past."

—Alexander Stall, Principal Process Improvement Engineer, Systems and Software Consortium

The CMMI provides a framework for process improvement spanning the life cycle of a product or service, from conception through delivery and maintenance. Widely and beneficially adopted around the world, the size and apparent complexity of the framework have nonetheless been daunting to some organizations. That need not be so. With a proper guide to help navigate around unknown dangers, potential pitfalls, and false paths, you too, can realize substantial business value from a successful CMMI implementation. This book is such a guide, full of the real-life examples to ease your way, and written in a lighter style to ease your reading.

The CMMI® Survival Guide is an effective resource for multiple readerships. If you are just now considering a process improvement program, with the CMMI among your options, the authors' discussion of relevant issues will enhance your business case right from the start. If you have already decided to implement the CMMI, the authors' practical knowledge will help you make the most of your efforts. Even if you are well into a CMMI implementation, but are lost, stuck, or going around in circles, the authors' valuable advice will help you regain your direction.

If you work in a smaller or resource-strapped organization, you will particularly benefit from the authors' description of alternative paths to process improvement—approaches that are more incremental or agile, and less intensive, than you might imagine for a CMMI implementation. The authors draw on their extensive experience working with diverse organizations, and on the CMMI tools, techniques, and templates developed for those organizations.

Whatever your background or need, the CMMI® Survival Guide will help you survey the CMMI territory, consult possible road maps, learn from other CMMI explorers, weigh the benefits of hiring a living guide, and even consider whether the trip is right for you.

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Price: $31.23 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A Lean Six Sigma deployment Master Black Belt, Black Belt, or Green Belt can benefit immensely from a step-by-step Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (P-DMAIC) project-execution-roadmap, where Lean and Six Sigma tools are truly integrated for effective problem solving The P-DMAIC roadmap needs to truly integrate both statistical and non-statistical tools, going beyond traditional Lean Six Sigma techniques.

In addition, the P-DMAIC project management roadmap needs to have a 30,000-foot-level process control system that assesses process stability/predictability so that special-cause variability is truly separated from common-cause variability. For predictable processes, a system process capability statement is needed that is expressed in easy-to-understand terms; e.g., the process has been predictable for the last 38 weeks and unless something changes we expect to have a future non-conformance rate of approximately 2.3%.

The 30,000-foot-level project/operation metric improvement needs are to lead the practitioner through the DMAIC project execution roadmap to the most appropriate tools for timely-positive-project success. For example, a detailed P-DMAIC roadmap needs to guide both the novice and expert to appropriate Lean and other tools for lead time and WIP 30,000-foot-level metric improvement needs. Kaizen events and other Lean activities need to have improve-phase DMAIC roadmap whole-enterprise-beneficial prescription. A P-DMAIC roadmap needs to orchestrate Lean activities with statistical analytical and non-statistical tools such as design of experiments (DOE) and plan-do-check-act (PDCA) for process analysis and improvement; i.e., a quality control management and operational system for long-lasting organizational benefits.

This volume describes IEE benefits and its measurement techniques providing a detailed step-by-step Project Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (P-DMAIC) roadmap, which has a true integration of Six Sigma and Lean tools.

The IEE system is a set of management techniques that embeds best practices derived from the strengths of past systems - applying structured metrics and a no nonsense road-map to initiate process improvement and achieve predictable and sustainable bottom-line benefits..
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Recipient of the Reader's Choice Award from Visual Basic Programmer's Journal Gary Cornell is one of the highest-profile authors--key Microsoft insider who's gained industry respect. Support of Visual Studio 6 team with technical review of book. Enables readers to produce commercial-quality programs for practical application. Section devoted to programming concepts for true novice, as well as content aimed towards more advanced programming tasks. Goes beyond competition with extensive coverage on building your own objects, custom controls, recursion, distributing commercial programs. Covers features built into both the Professional and Enterprise editions of Visual Basic..
Price: $6.46 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"In this book, I have found answers to key questions and misconceptions about the relationship between Six Sigma and the Capability Maturity Model Integration [CMMI]....Among my key takeaways is that the relationship between Six Sigma and CMMI exemplifies one of the principles of S4/IEE: CMMI provides process infrastructure that is needed to support a successful Six Sigma strategy."

—Forrest W. Breyfogle III, CEO, Smarter Solutions, Inc.

"Finally, a book that bridges the software and hardware process tool set. To date, there have been hardware and software engineers who for one reason or another have not communicated their process methods. And so, myths formed that convinced the hardware community that CMMI was only for software and likewise convinced the software community that Six Sigma was only for hardware. It is both refreshing and thought provoking to dispel these myths."

—Jack Ferguson, Manager, SEI Appraisal Program, Software Engineering Institute

CMMI and Six Sigma represent two of the best-known process improvement initiatives. Both are designed to enhance work quality and thereby produce business advantages for an organization. It's a misconception that the two are in competition and cannot be implemented simultaneously. Practitioners originally trained in either CMMI or Six Sigma are now finding that the two initiatives work remarkably well together in the pursuit of their common goal.

CMMI® and Six Sigma: Partners in Process Improvement focuses on the synergistic, rather than competitive, implementation of CMMI and Six Sigma—with synergy translating to "faster, better, cheaper" achievement of mission success. Topics range from formation of the value proposition to specific implementation tactics. The authors illustrate how not taking advantage of what both initiatives have to offer puts an organization at risk of sinking time, energy, and money into "inventing" a solution that already exists. Along the way they debunk a few myths about Six Sigma applications in software.

While the authors concentrate on the interoperability of Six Sigma and CMMI, they also recognize that organizations rarely implement only these two initiatives. Accordingly, the discussion turns to the emerging realm of "multimodel" process improvement and strategies and tactics that transcend models to help organizations effectively knit together a single unified internal process standard.

Whether you work in the defense industry, for a commercial organization, or for a government agency—wherever quality and efficiency matter—you'll find this book to be a valuable resource for bridging process issues across domains and building an improvement strategy that succeeds.

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Price: $34.85 [Notify me when price goes down.]

CMMI® (Capability Maturity Model® Integration) is an integrated, extensible framework for improving process capability and quality across an organization It has become a cornerstone in the implementation of continuous improvement for both industry and governments around the world. Rich in both detail and guidance for a wide set of organizational domains, the CMMI Product Suite continues to evolve and expand.

Updated for CMMI Version 1.2, this third edition of CMMI® Distilledagain provides a concise and readable introduction to the model, as well as straightforward, no-nonsense information on integrated, continuous process improvement. The book now also includes practical advice on how to use CMMI in tandem with other approaches, including Six Sigma and Lean, as well as new and expanded guidance on preparing for, managing, and using appraisals.

Written so that readers unfamiliar with model-based process improvement will understand how to get started with CMMI, the book offers insights for those more experienced as well. It can help battle-scarred process improvement veterans, and experienced suppliers and acquirers of both systems and services, perform more effectively. CMMI® Distilled is especially appropriate for executives and managers who need to understand why continuous improvement is valuable, why CMMI is a tool of choice, and how to maximize the return on their efforts and investments. Engineers of all kinds (systems, hardware, software, and quality, as well as acquisition personnel and service providers) will find ideas on how to perform better.

The three authors, all involved with CMMI since its inception, bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this book. They highlight the pitfalls and shortcuts that are all too often learned by costly experience, and they provide a context for understanding why the use of CMMI continues to grow around the world..
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Use CMMI to Improve Project Management Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Accountability

The Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Maturity Level 2 offers powerful, end-to-end tools for improvement throughout your organization. In Project Management Success with CMMI^®, James Persse demonstrates exactly how to apply CMMI Level 2 to virtually any project, program, or process. User friendly, concise, and easy to follow, this book helps you implement all seven CMMI Level 2 process areas; customize CMMI for your unique projects and organization; and achieve powerful, quantifiable results.

The author takes a practical approach to the business and operational needs of project management, carefully linking the realities of business and technical projects with CMMI recommendations. Drawing on his unsurpassed CMMI field experience, Persse presents case studies, anecdotes, and examples—all designed to illuminate what works and what doesn’t.

Persse introduces the substance and intention of all seven CMMI Level 2 process areas. For each area, he shows how to define goals, implement best practices, understand issues of sizing and scope, and avoid pitfalls and misinterpretations. He is also the first to explain how CMMI can integrate with the tools and skills of the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge, improving the effectiveness of both.

Coverage includes

• Understanding project management as value management
• Planning projects and structuring expectations
• Monitoring and controlling projects
• Managing requirements, configurations, and supplier agreements
• Implementing effective measurement and analysis
• Assuring process and product quality

Project Management Success with CMMI^® is an invaluable resource for anyone responsible for managing projects, programs, or processes—including those who are new to CMMI and project management.

The book’s companion Web site (www.prenhallprofessional.com/title/0132333058) contains an extensive library of downloadable CMMI project management resources corresponding to each of the seven CMMI process areas.

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Price: $33.57 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Established companies are clamoring for breakthrough innovation, but are often hamstrung by the highly reliable, repeatable processes of their management systems. Based on years of research, Grabbing Lightning shows how twelve companies have tried to develop a capability for sustainable breakthrough innovation and outlines best practices for your organization.

The authors show how the management system for innovation is different from the traditional one in that it allowsand even encouragesmistakes and failures in order to promote learning. Grabbing Lightning outlines the three building blocks of breakthrough innovation (BI) and shows what it takes to become an organization that values the BI management system..
Price: $14.75 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This book provides a description and technical overview of the capability maturity model for software process management, along with guidelines for improving software process management overall. It is the sequel to Watts Humphrey's important work, Managing the Software Process. Featured are the process maturity framework; the key software practices that comprise the capability maturity model, how the model is used in practice; and the results some companies have achieved with it. Also included is a comparison of the model with ISO 9000 standards and a description of an actual project that exhibits Level 5 capabilities..
Price: $7.62 [Notify me when price goes down.]