An Exhaustive and Official Appraisal Based on the SCAMPI A Method

Summary of a Typical Proposal for Conducting an Official Systems Process Appraisal (dependant on software) Based on the SCAMPI A Method, Performed by an SEI Authorized Lead Appraiser

 SCAMPI A in a Nutshell

The SCAMPI A uses a recognized baseline (the CMMI) to evaluate, at any precise moment and for a clearly identified organization, the strengths and weaknesses of its development process and systems maintenance (with a more or less strong dependence on SOFTWARE).
A SCAMPI A is performed by a team of professionals chosen and trained with care, mainly from the evaluated organization, and supported by an SEI authorized lead appraiser and generally assisted by one or more external resources.

The Principles We Value

• To rely on proven approaches and to apply these with flexibility and efficiency, never compromising on anything that could affect the quality and the credibility of the results
• To consider every SCAMPI A as an exceptional opportunity to transfer technology: training, supporting, and developing the autonomy of the appraised organization
• To tie the SCAMPI A to corporate objectives and to regard the SCAMPI A as one step within a more global focus on software process improvement
• To observe a rigorous respect for reaching team consensus, that will lead to identify an exhaustive and reliable profile of the software process; the consensus will facilitate the transition toward the preparation of the action plan and its implementation

The 2 SCAMPI A Phases

• The preparation phase (mandate definition, team training, logistics)
• The on-site phase (data collection, analysis, synthesis)

The Main Deliverables regarding the appraisal (reports)

• Presentation of the context, the scope and the corporate goals
• Presentation of the rating of each key process area and of the global level of maturity
• Presentation, for each key process area, the strengths and weaknesses in the actual processes
• A general schedule for the steps to follow

The Prerequisites

• Confirm, during the initial meetings, the clear commitment of the customer's representative (called the "sponsor") to support the appraisal steps, as well as the subsequent phases for the action plan and its implementation)
• Verify that all team members have followed the official SEI course " Introduction to CMMI " or an acceptable equivalent training

Responsibilities

• Appointment of a certified lead appraiser and, if required, of a competent assistant
• Quality and suitability of the services rendered
• Respect of the SCAMPI A method requirements
• Prompt notification to the sponsor of any major problem

• Assistance and commitment of the "Sponsor"
• Appointment of competent and available team members
• Representativeness of projects and the selected participants
• Collaboration in respecting the SCAMPI A method requirements

The Principal People Involved

• "Sponsor" (from the organization's upper management): Approximately 2 person-days (PD)
• Appraisal team:
• Typically 5 people : approximately 15 person-days (PD) each
• Team leader (SEI authorized Lead appraiser from ALCYONIX)
• Assistant to the team leader (from ALCYONIX)
• Other team members (from the appraised organization)
• Participants (from the appraised organization):
• Typically 25 to 40 people (approx. 1 PD each) selected from among the staff using a sampling technique:
• Managers
• Project Managers
• Practitioners (regrouped by main activity) type)

The Schedule

The starting date will be the one officially accepted by the sponsor. This schedule will be reviewed and amended, if necessary, following meetings held with the sponsor and following the course given to the team members. A detailed plan will be prepared following the course and will be submitted to the sponsor approval.

The Budget

The cost invoiced by ALCYONIX (contact us) will vary according to the size of the organizational scope, of the site to be appraised, of the distribution of the participants ( multiple or unique sites) and of the CMMI scope to be covered; other particular requirements of the organization to be appraised could also affect the cost.  Generally, two on-site trips are foreseen for the completion of a SCAMPI A.

Contact us for a detailed proposal