In CMMI models, the process areas are organized in alphabetical order according to their acronym. However, process areas can be grouped according to maturity levels or process area categories.
There are Five maturity levels. However, maturity level ratings are awarded for levels 2 through 5. The process areas below and their maturity levels are listed for the CMMI for Development model:
Maturity Level 2 - Managed
CM - Configuration ManagementMA - Measurement and AnalysisPMC - Project Monitoring and ControlPP - Project PlanningPPQA - Process and Product Quality AssuranceREQM - Requirements ManagementSAM - Supplier Agreement ManagementMaturity Level 3 - Defined
DAR - Decision Analysis and ResolutionIPM - Integrated Project ManagementOPD - Organizational Process DefinitionOPF - Organizational Process FocusOT - Organizational TrainingPI - Product IntegrationRD - Requirements DevelopmentRSKM - Risk ManagementTS - Technical SolutionVAL - ValidationVER - VerificationMaturity Level 4 - Quantitatively Managed
OPP - Organizational Process PerformanceQPM - Quantitative Project ManagementMaturity Level 5 - Optimizing
CAR - Causal Analysis and ResolutionOPM - Organizational Performance ManagementThe process areas below and their maturity levels are listed for the CMMI for Services model:
Maturity Level 2 - Managed
CM - Configuration ManagementMA - Measurement and AnalysisPPQA - Process and Product Quality AssuranceREQM - Requirements ManagementSAM - Supplier Agreement ManagementSD - Service DeliveryWMC - Work Monitoring and ControlWP - Work PlanningMaturity Level 3 - Defined (this includes the process areas that make up the previous levels; Maturity Level 3 is made up of the process areas in Level 2 and Level 3)
CAM - Capacity and Availability ManagementDAR - Decision Analysis and ResolutionIRP - Incident Resolution and PreventionIWM - Integrated Work ManagementOPD - Organizational Process DefinitionOPF - Organizational Process FocusOT - Organizational TrainingRSKM - Risk ManagementSCON - Service ContinuitySSD - Service System DevelopmentSST - Service System TransitionSTSM - Strategic Service ManagementMaturity Level 4 - Quantitatively Managed
OPP - Organizational Process PerformanceQPM - Quantitative Project ManagementMaturity Level 5 - Optimizing
CAR - Causal Analysis and ResolutionOPM - Organizational Performance ManagementThe process areas below and their maturity levels are listed for the CMMI for Acquisition model:
Maturity Level 2 - Managed
AM - Agreement ManagementARD - Acquisition Requirements DevelopmentCM - Configuration ManagementMA - Measurement and AnalysisPMC - Project Monitoring and ControlPP - Project PlanningPPQA - Process and Product Quality AssuranceREQM - Requirements ManagementSSAD - Solicitation and Supplier Agreement DevelopmentMaturity Level 3 - Defined
ATM - Acquisition Technical ManagementAVAL - Acquisition ValidationAVER - Acquisition VerificationDAR - Decision Analysis and ResolutionIPM - Integrated Project ManagementOPD - Organizational Process DefinitionOPF - Organizational Process FocusOT - Organizational TrainingRSKM - Risk Management.Maturity Level 4 - Quantitatively Managed
OPP - Organizational Process PerformanceQPM - Quantitative Project ManagementMaturity Level 5 - Optimizing
CAR - Causal Analysis and ResolutionOPM - Organizational Performance ManagementGoals and Practices
There are two categories of goals and practices: generic and specific. Specific goals and practices are specific to a process area. Generic goals and practices are a part of every process area. A process area is satisfied when organizational processes cover all of the generic and specific goals and practices for that process area.
Generic Goals and Practices
Generic goals and practices are a part of every process area.
GG 1 Achieve Specific GoalsGP 1.1 Perform Specific PracticesGG 2 Institutionalize a Managed ProcessGP 2.1 Establish an Organizational PolicyGP 2.2 Plan the ProcessGP 2.3 Provide ResourcesGP 2.4 Assign ResponsibilityGP 2.5 Train PeopleGP 2.6 Control Work ProductsGP 2.7 Identify and Involve Relevant StakeholdersGP 2.8 Monitor and Control the ProcessGP 2.9 Objectively Evaluate AdherenceGP 2.10 Review Status with Higher Level ManagementGG 3 Institutionalize a Defined ProcessGP 3.1 Establish a Defined ProcessGP 3.2 Collect Process Related ExperiencesSpecific Goals and Practices
Each process area is defined by a set of goals and practices. These goals and practices appear only in that process area.
CMMI for Development, Version 1.2 contains 22 process areas indicating the aspects of product and service development that are to be covered by organizational processes. For a summary of process areas for each model, see these quick reference documents available on the SEI website:
CMMI for Acquisition [1]CMMI for Development [2]CMMI for Services [3]A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2Purpose
The purpose of Agreement Management (AM) is to ensure that the supplier and the acquirer perform according to the terms of the supplier agreement.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Satisfy Supplier AgreementsSP 1.1 Execute the Supplier AgreementSP 1.2 Monitor Selected Supplier ProcessesSP 1.3 Accept the Acquired ProductSP 1.4 Manage Supplier InvoicesCapacity and Availability Management (CAM)
A Support process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Capacity and Availability Management (CAM) is to ensure effective service system performance and ensure that resources are provided and used effectively to support service requirements.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Prepare for Capacity and Availability ManagementSP 1.1 Establish a Capacity and Availability Management StrategySP 1.2 Select Measures and Analytic TechniquesSP 1.3 Establish Service System RepresentationsSG 2 Monitor and Analyze Capacity and AvailabilitySP 2.1 Monitor and Analyze CapacitySP 2.2 Monitor and Analyze AvailabilitySP 2.3 Report Capacity and Availability Management DataCausal Analysis and Resolution (CAR)
A Support process area at Maturity Level 5Purpose
The purpose of Causal Analysis and Resolution (CAR) is to identify causes of selected outcomes and take action to improve process performance.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Determine Causes of Selected OutcomesSP 1.1 Select Outcomes for AnalysisSP 1.2 Analyze CausesSG 2 Address Causes of Selected OutcomesSP 2.1 Implement Action ProposalsSP 2.2 Evaluate the Effect of Implemented ActionsSP 2.3 Record Causal Analysis DataA Support process area at Maturity Level 2Purpose
The purpose of Configuration Management (CM) is to establish and maintain the integrity of work products using configuration identification, configuration control, configuration status accounting, and configuration audits.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Establish BaselinesSP 1.1 Identify Configuration ItemsSP 1.2 Establish a Configuration Management SystemSP 1.3 Create or Release BaselinesSG 2 Track and Control ChangesSP 2.1 Track Change RequestsSP 2.2 Control Configuration ItemsSG 3 Establish IntegritySP 3.1 Establish Configuration Management RecordsSP 3.2 Perform Configuration AuditsDecision Analysis and Resolution (DAR)
A Support process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Decision Analysis and Resolution (DAR) is to analyze possible decisions using a formal evaluation process that evaluates identified alternatives against established criteria.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Evaluate AlternativesSP 1.1 Establish Guidelines for Decision AnalysisSP 1.2 Establish Evaluation CriteriaSP 1.3 Identify Alternative SolutionsSP 1.4 Select Evaluation MethodsSP 1.5 Evaluate Alternative SolutionsSP 1.6 Select SolutionsA Project Management process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Integrated Project Management (IPM) is to establish and manage the project and the involvement of relevant stakeholders according to an integrated and defined process that is tailored from the organization’s set of standard processes.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Use the Project's Defined ProcessSP 1.1 Establish the Project's Defined ProcessSP 1.2 Use Organizational Process Assets for Planning Project ActivitiesSP 1.3 Establish the Project's Work EnvironmentSP 1.4 Integrate PlansSP 1.5 Manage the Project Using the Integrated PlansSP 1.6 Establish TeamsSP 1.7 Contribute to Organizational Process AssetsSG 2 Coordinate and Collaborate with Relevant StakeholdersSP 2.1 Manage Stakeholder InvolvementSP 2.2 Manage DependenciesSP 2.3 Resolve Coordination IssuesMeasurement and Analysis (MA)
A Support process area at Maturity Level 2Purpose
The purpose of Measurement and Analysis (MA) is to develop and sustain a measurement capability used to support management information needs.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Align Measurement and Analysis ActivitiesSP 1.1 Establish Measurement ObjectivesResources,People,Facilities and Techniques.SP 1.2 Specify MeasuresInformation Needs Document,Guidance,Reference and Reporting.SP 1.3 Specify Data Collection and Storage ProceduresSources,Methods,Frequency and Owners.SP 1.4 Specify Analysis ProceduresRules,Alarms,SPC and Variance.SG 2 Provide Measurement ResultsSP 2.1 Obtain Measurement DataActual,Plan,Automatic and Manual.SP 2.2 Analyze Measurement DataEvaluate,Drill Down,RCA.SP 2.3 Store Data and ResultsStore,Secure,Accessible,History and Evidence.SP 2.4 Communicate ResultsInformation Sharing,Dash Boards,Up to Date,Simple and Interpret.A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Organizational Process Definition (OPD) is to establish and maintain a usable set of organizational process assets, work environment standards, and rules and guidelines for teams.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Establish Organizational Process AssetsSP 1.1 Establish Standard ProcessesSP 1.2 Establish Lifecycle Model DescriptionsSP 1.3 Establish Tailoring Criteria and GuidelinesSP 1.4 Establish the Organization's Measurement RepositorySP 1.5 Establish the Organization's Process Asset LibrarySP 1.6 Establish Work Environment StandardsSP 1.7 Establish Rules and Guidelines for TeamsA Process Management process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Organizational Process Focus (OPF) is to plan, implement, and deploy organizational process improvements based on a thorough understanding of current strengths and weaknesses of the organization’s processes and process assets.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Determine Process Improvement OpportunitiesSP 1.1 Establish Organizational Process NeedsSP 1.2 Appraise the Organization's ProcessesSP 1.3 Identify the Organization's Process ImprovementsSG 2 Plan and Implement Process ImprovementsSP 2.1 Establish Process Action PlansSP 2.2 Implement Process Action PlansSG 3 Deploy Organizational Process Assets and Incorporate ExperiencesSP 3.1 Deploy Organizational Process AssetsSP 3.2 Deploy Standard ProcessesSP 3.3 Monitor the ImplementationSP 3.4 Incorporate Experiences into Organizational Process AssetsA Process Management process area at Maturity Level 5Purpose
The purpose of Organizational Performance Management (OPM) is to proactively manage the organization’s performance to meet its business objectives.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Manage Business PerformanceSP 1.1 Maintain Business ObjectivesSP 1.2 Analyze Process Performance DataSP 1.3 Identify Potential Areas for ImprovementSG 2 Select ImprovementsSP 2.1 Elicit Suggested ImprovementsSP 2.2 Analyze Suggested ImprovementsSP 2.3 Validate ImprovementsSP 2.4 Select and Implement Improvements for DeploymentSG 3 Deploy ImprovementsSP 3.1 Plan the DeploymentSP 3.2 Manage the DeploymentSP 3.3 Evaluate Improvement EffectsA Process Management process area at Maturity Level 4Purpose
The purpose of Organizational Process Performance (OPP) is to establish and maintain a quantitative understanding of the performance of selected processes in the organization’s set of standard processes in support of achieving quality and process performance objectives, and to provide process performance data, baselines, and models to quantitatively manage the organization’s projects.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Establish Performance Baselines and ModelsSP 1.1 Establish Quality and Process Performance ObjectivesSP 1.2 Select ProcessesSP 1.3 Establish Process Performance MeasuresSP 1.4 Analyze Process Performance and Establish Process Performance BaselinesSP 1.5 Establish Process Performance ModelsA Process Management process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Organizational Training (OT) is to develop skills and knowledge of people so they can perform their roles effectively and efficiently.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Establish an Organizational Training CapabilitySP 1.1 Establish Strategic Training NeedsSP 1.2 Determine Which Training Needs Are the Responsibility of the OrganizationSP 1.3 Establish an Organizational Training Tactical PlanSP 1.4 Establish a Training CapabilitySG 2 Provide TrainingSP 2.1 Deliver TrainingSP 2.2 Establish Training RecordsSP 2.3 Assess Training EffectivenessAn Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Product Integration (PI) is to assemble the product from the product components, ensure that the product, as integrated, behaves properly (i.e., possesses the required functionality and quality attributes), and deliver the product.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Prepare for Product IntegrationSP 1.1 Establish an Integration StrategySP 1.2 Establish the Product Integration EnvironmentSP 1.3 Establish Product Integration Procedures and CriteriaSG 2 Ensure Interface CompatibilitySP 2.1 Review Interface Descriptions for CompletenessSP 2.2 Manage InterfacesSG 3 Assemble Product Components and Deliver the ProductSP 3.1 Confirm Readiness of Product Components for IntegrationSP 3.2 Assemble Product ComponentsSP 3.3 Evaluate Assembled Product ComponentsSP 3.4 Package and Deliver the Product or Product ComponentProject Monitoring and Control (PMC)
A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2Purpose
The purpose of Project Monitoring and Control (PMC) is to provide an understanding of the project's progress so that appropriate corrective actions can be taken when the project's performance deviates significantly from the plan.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Monitor the Project Against the PlanSP 1.1 Monitor Project Planning ParametersSP 1.2 Monitor CommitmentsSP 1.3 Monitor Project RisksSP 1.4 Monitor Data ManagementSP 1.5 Monitor Stakeholder InvolvementSP 1.6 Conduct Progress ReviewsSP 1.7 Conduct Milestone ReviewsSG 2 Manage Corrective Action to ClosureSP 2.1 Analyze IssuesSP 2.2 Take Corrective ActionSP 2.3 Manage Corrective ActionsA Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2Purpose
The purpose of Project Planning (PP) is to establish and maintain plans that define project activities.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Establish EstimatesSP 1.1 Estimate the Scope of the ProjectSP 1.2 Establish Estimates of Work Product and Task AttributesSP 1.3 Define Project Lifecycle PhasesSP 1.4 Estimate Effort and CostSG 2 Develop a Project PlanSP 2.1 Establish the Budget and ScheduleSP 2.2 Identify Project RisksSP 2.3 Plan Data ManagementSP 2.4 Plan the Project's ResourcesSP 2.5 Plan Needed Knowledge and SkillsSP 2.6 Plan Stakeholder InvolvementSP 2.7 Establish the Project PlanSG 3 Obtain Commitment to the PlanSP 3.1 Review Plans that Affect the ProjectSP 3.2 Reconcile Work and Resource LevelsSP 3.3 Obtain Plan CommitmentProcess and Product Quality Assurance (PPQA)
A Support process area at Maturity Level 2Purpose
The purpose of Process and Product Quality Assurance (PPQA) is to provide staff and management with objective insight into processes and associated work products.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Objectively Evaluate Processes and Work ProductsSP 1.1 Objectively Evaluate ProcessesSP 1.2 Objectively Evaluate Work ProductsSG 2 Provide Objective InsightSP 2.1 Communicate and Resolve Noncompliance IssuesSP 2.2 Establish Records.A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 4Purpose
The purpose of the Quantitative Project Management (QPM) process area is to quantitatively manage the project to achieve the project’s established quality and process performance objectives.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Prepare for Quantitative ManagementSP 1.1 Establish the Project’s ObjectivesSP 1.2 Compose the Defined ProcessesSP 1.3 Select Subprocesses and AttributesSP 1.4 Select Measures and Analytic TechniquesSG 2 Quantitatively Manage the ProjectSP 2.1 Monitor the Performance of Selected SubprocessesSP 2.2 Manage Project PerformanceSP 2.3 Perform Root Cause AnalysisAn Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3.Purpose
The purpose of Requirements Development (RD) is to elicit, analyze, and establish customer, product, and product component requirements.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Develop Customer RequirementsSP 1.1 Elicit NeedsSP 1.2 Transform Stakeholder Needs into Customer RequirementsSG 2 Develop Product RequirementsSP 2.1 Establish Product and Product Component RequirementsSP 2.2 Allocate Product Component RequirementsSP 2.3 Identify Interface RequirementsSG 3 Analyze and Validate RequirementsSP 3.1 Establish Operational Concepts and ScenariosSP 3.2 Establish a Definition of Required Functionality and Quality AttributesSP 3.3 Analyze RequirementsSP 3.4 Analyze Requirements to Achieve BalanceSP 3.5 Validate RequirementsA Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2Purpose
The purpose of Requirements Management (REQM) is to manage requirements of the project’s products and product components and to ensure alignment between those requirements and the project’s plans and work products.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Manage RequirementsSP 1.1 Understand RequirementsSP 1.2 Obtain Commitment to RequirementsSP 1.3 Manage Requirements ChangesSP 1.4 Maintain Bidirectional Traceability of RequirementsSP 1.5 Ensure Alignment Between Project Work and RequirementsA Project Management process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Risk Management (RSKM) is to identify potential problems before they occur so that risk handling activities can be planned and invoked as needed across the life of the product or project to mitigate adverse impacts on achieving objectives.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Prepare for Risk ManagementSP 1.1 Determine Risk Sources and CategoriesSP 1.2 Define Risk ParametersSP 1.3 Establish a Risk Management StrategySG 2 Identify and Analyze RisksSP 2.1 Identify RisksSP 2.2 Evaluate, Categorize, and Prioritize RisksSG 3 Mitigate RisksSP 3.1 Develop Risk Mitigation PlansSP 3.2 Implement Risk Mitigation PlansA Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2Purpose
The purpose of Supplier Agreement Management (SAM) is to manage the acquisition of products from suppliers.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Establish Supplier AgreementsSP 1.1 Determine Acquisition TypeSP 1.2 Select SuppliersSP 1.3 Establish Supplier AgreementsSG 2 Satisfy Supplier AgreementsSP 2.1 Execute the Supplier AgreementSP 2.2 Accept the Acquired ProductSP 2.3 Ensure Transition of ProductsAn Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Technical Solution (TS) is to select design and implement solutions to requirements. Solutions, designs, and implementations encompass products, product components, and product related lifecycle processes either singly or in combination as appropriate.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Select Product Component SolutionsSP 1.1 Develop Alternative Solutions and Selection CriteriaSP 1.2 Select Product Component SolutionsSG 2 Develop the DesignSP 2.1 Design the Product or Product ComponentSP 2.2 Establish a Technical Data PackageSP 2.3 Design Interfaces Using CriteriaSP 2.4 Perform Make, Buy or Reuse AnalysesSG 3 Implement the Product DesignSP 3.1 Implement the DesignSP 3.2 Develop Product Support DocumentationAn Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Validation (VAL) is to demonstrate that a product or product component fulfills its intended use when placed in its intended environment.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Prepare for ValidationSP 1.1 Select Products for ValidationSP 1.2 Establish the Validation EnvironmentSP 1.3 Establish Validation Procedures and CriteriaSG 2 Validate Product or Product ComponentsSP 2.1 Perform ValidationSP 2.2 Analyze Validation ResultsAn Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3Purpose
The purpose of Verification (VER) is to ensure that selected work products meet their specified requirements.
Specific Practices by Goal
SG 1 Prepare for VerificationSP 1.1 Select Work Products for VerificationSP 1.2 Establish the Verification EnvironmentSP 1.3 Establish Verification Procedures and CriteriaSG 2 Perform Peer ReviewsSP 2.1 Prepare for Peer ReviewsSP 2.2 Conduct Peer ReviewsSP 2.3 Analyze Peer Review DataSG 3 Verify Selected Work ProductsSP 3.1 Perform VerificationSP 3.2 Analyze Verification ResultsOnly changes made to the set of Process Areas are considered here. For more information about the changes made to Version 1.2, see the Version 1.2 Release Notes or for the definitive list of changes, take the CMMI Version 1.2 Upgrade Training.
The following Process Areas have been removed (all on Maturity Level 3):Organisational Environment for Integration (OEI)Integrated Teaming (IT)Integrated Supplier Management (ISM)The following additions have been made within existing Process Areas:IPM – SG3 and SG4 were eliminated, new SG3 was added (as an IPPD addition)OPD – SG2 was added (as an IPPD addition)OPF – two SPs were extracted from the old SG3 and combined with two new SPs to create the new SG3REQD – SP3.5 was renamed Validate RequirementsSAM – SP2.1 was eliminated, two new SPs added in SG2TS – SP1.2 was incorporated into RD SP 3.1VER – SP3.2 was renamed Analyze Verification ResultsSome significant improvements in CMMI-DEV, V1.3 include the following:
High maturity process areas are significantly improved to reflect industry best practices, including a new specific goal and several new specific practices in the process area that was renamed from Organizational Innovation and Deployment (OID) to Organizational Performance Management (OPM).Agile practices have been included with an interpretation guideline and by adding notes to the applicable process areas in the introduction of the process area and on how to interpret agile practices.Improvements were made to the model architecture that simplify the use of multiple models.Informative material was improved, including revising the engineering practices to reflect industry best practice and adding guidance for organizations that use Agile methods.Glossary definitions and model terminology were improved to enhance the clarity, accuracy, and usability of the model.Level 4 and 5 generic goals and practices were eliminated as well as capability levels 4 and 5 to appropriately focus high maturity on the achievement of business objectives, which is accomplished by applying capability level 1-3 to the high maturity process areas (Causal Analysis and Resolution, Quantitative Project Management, Organizational Performance Management, and Organizational Process Performance).For a more complete and detailed list of improvements, see http://www.sei.cmu.edu/cmmi/tools/cmmiv1-3/comparison.cfm. An overview of the changes is described in http://www.benlinders.com/2011/cmmi-v1-3-summing-up/.
Process Areas, Categories, and Maturity Levels
Table: Process Areas, Categories, and Maturity Levels