Introduction to CMM

Introduction to CMM

Quality software should reasonably be bug-free, delivered on time and within budget. It should meet the given requirements and/or expectations, and should be maintainable. In order to produce error free and high quality software certain standards need to be followed.

Quality Standards
ISO 9001: 2000 is Quality Management System Certification. To achieve this, an organization must satisfy ISO 9001: 2000 clauses (clauses 1 - 8). Six Sigma is a process improvement methodology focused on reduction in variation of the processes around the mean. Its objective is to make the process defect free. SEI CMM is a defacto standard for assessing and improving processes related to software development, developed by the software community in 1986 with leadership from SEI. It’s a software specific process maturity model. It provides guidance for measuring software process maturity and helps process improvement programs.

SEI CMM is organized into 5 maturity levels:
1 Initial
2 Repeatable
3 Defined
4 Manageable
5 Optimizing

1)Initial
The software process is characterized as ad hoc, and occasionally even chaotic. Few processes are defined, and success depends on individual effort and heroics.

2) Repeatable:
Basic project management processes are established to track cost, schedule, and functionality. The necessary process discipline is in place to repeat earlier successes on projects with similar applications.

3) Defined:
The software process for both management and engineering activities is documented, standardized, and integrated into a standard software process for the organization. All projects use an approved, tailored version of the organization's standard software process for developing and maintaining software.

4) Managed:
Detailed measures of the software process and product quality are collected. Both the software process and products are quantitatively understood and controlled.

5) Optimizing:
Continuous process improvement is enabled by quantitative feedback from the process and from piloting innovative ideas and technologies.