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.
Tip
The many varied organizational approaches to structuring acquisition offices and positioning process improvement programs within them makes this process area vitally important for pursuing CMMI-ACQ beyond the basic acquisition best practices found in the CMMI-ACQ Primer at www.sei.cmu.edu/cmmi/models/.
Our experience suggests that in some cases the organizational process improvement efforts are best managed at a site where multiple acquisition projects are operating. In other cases, process improvement efforts may be dispersed across regions or the globe with needed commitment to process discipline imposed from a central office, such as the office of the company CIO.
The organization’s processes include all processes used by the organization and its projects. Candidate improvements to the organization’s processes and process assets are obtained from various sources including the measurement of processes, lessons learned in implementing processes, results of process appraisals, results of product evaluation activities, results of benchmarking against other organizations’ processes, and recommendations from other improvement initiatives in the organization.
Process improvement occurs in the context of the organization’s needs and is used to address the organization’s objectives. The organization encourages participation in process improvement activities by those who perform the process. The responsibility for facilitating and managing the organization’s process improvement activities, including coordinating the participation of others, is typically assigned to a process group. The organization provides the long-term commitment and resources required to sponsor this group and to ensure the effective and timely deployment of improvements.
Tip
Although CMMI describes many of the processes that are critical to success, it does not contain everything. Therefore, you may improve processes such as portfolio management, which might not be discussed in CMMI.
The acquirer encourages supplier participation in process improvement activities.
Careful planning is required to ensure that process improvement efforts across the organization are adequately managed and implemented. The organization’s process improvement planning results in a process improvement plan.
The organization’s process improvement plan addresses appraisal planning, process action planning, pilot planning, and deployment planning. Appraisal plans describe the appraisal timeline and schedule, the scope of the appraisal, resources required to perform the appraisal, the reference model against which the appraisal will be performed, and logistics for the appraisal.
Tip
Project participation is essential to any process improvement effort. Since acquisition success is dependent on both acquirers and suppliers, coordinated approaches offer a powerful synergy.
Especially in the early phases of process improvement, the process group must visibly demonstrate return on the organization’s investment in process improvement.
Process action plans usually result from appraisals and document how improvements targeting weaknesses uncovered by an appraisal will be implemented. Sometimes the improvement described in the process action plan should be tested on a small group before deploying it across the organization. In these cases, a pilot plan is generated.
Finally, when the improvement is to be deployed, a deployment plan is created. This plan describes when and how the improvement will be deployed across the organization.
Organizational process assets are used to describe, implement, and improve the organization’s processes (see the definition of “organizational process assets” in the glossary).
Refer to the Organizational Process Definition process area for more information about organizational process assets.
Refer to the Organizational Training process area for more information about the coordination of training.
Refer to the Measurement and Analysis process area for more information about analyzing measures.
Hint
Run your process improvement program like a project or series of projects. Use CMMI practices to help you plan, implement, and manage your process improvement activities.
Specific Goal and Practice Summary
SG 1 Determine Process Improvement Opportunities
SP 1.1 Establish Organizational Process Needs
SP 1.2 Appraise the Organization’s Processes
SP 1.3 Identify the Organization’s Process Improvements
SG 2 Plan and Implement Process Actions
SP 2.1 Establish Process Action Plans
SP 2.2 Implement Process Action Plans
SG 3 Deploy Organizational Process Assets and Incorporate Experiences
SP 3.1 Deploy Organizational Process Assets
SP 3.2 Deploy Standard Processes
SP 3.3 Monitor the Implementation
SP 3.4 Incorporate Experiences into Organizational Process Assets
Strengths, weaknesses, and improvement opportunities for the organization’s processes are identified periodically and as needed.
Strengths, weaknesses, and improvement opportunities may be determined relative to a process standard or model such as a CMMI model or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard. Process improvements should be selected to address the organization’s needs.
Changing business objectives, legal and regulatory requirements, and results of benchmarking studies may be sources of process improvement opportunities.
Establish and maintain the description of process needs and objectives for the organization.
The organization’s processes operate in a business context that must be understood. The organization’s business objectives, needs, and constraints determine the needs and objectives for the organization’s processes. Typically, issues related to finance, technology, quality, human resources, and marketing are important process considerations.
Issues related to the organization’s acquisition management needs are important process considerations.
Typical Work Products
- The organization’s process needs and objectives
Subpractices
- Identify policies, standards, and business objectives that are applicable to the organization’s processes.
- Examine relevant process standards and models for best practices.
- Determine the organization’s process-performance objectives.
Process-performance objectives may be expressed in quantitative or qualitative terms.
Refer to the Measurement and Analysis process area for more information about establishing measurement objectives.
- Define essential characteristics of the organization’s processes.
Essential characteristics of the organization’s processes are determined based on the following:
• Processes currently being used in the organization
• Standards imposed by the organization
• Standards commonly imposed by customers of the organization
- Document the organization’s process needs and objectives.
- Revise the organization’s process needs and objectives as needed.
Appraise the organization’s processes periodically and as needed to maintain an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
X-Ref
Using appraisals as part of managing supplier activities is covered in SSAD and AM. Another useful resource for understanding how to best interpret appraisals is the guidebook, “Understanding and Leveraging a Supplier’s CMMI Efforts: A Guidebook for Acquirers,” at www.sei.cmu.edu/publications/documents/07.reports/07tr004.html.
The buy-in gained during a process appraisal can be eroded significantly if it is not followed by an appraisal-based action plan.
- Plans for the organization’s process appraisals
- Appraisal findings that address strengths and weaknesses of the organization’s processes
- Improvement recommendations for the organization’s processes
Subpractices
- Obtain sponsorship of the process appraisal from senior management.
Senior management sponsorship includes the commitment to have the organization’s managers and staff participate in the process appraisal and to provide resources and funding to analyze and communicate findings of the appraisal.
- Define the scope of the process appraisal.
Process appraisals may be performed on the entire organization or may be performed on a smaller part of an organization such as a single project or business area.
The scope of the process appraisal addresses the following:
• Definition of the organization (e.g., sites or business areas) to be covered by the appraisal
• Identification of the project and support functions that will represent the organization in the appraisal
• Processes to be appraised
- Determine the method and criteria for the process appraisal.
Process appraisals can occur in many forms. They should address the needs and objectives of the organization, which may change over time. For example, the appraisal may be based on a process model, such as a CMMI model, or on a national or international standard, such as ISO 9001 [ISO 2000]. Appraisals may also be based on a benchmark comparison with other organizations in which practices that may contribute to improved performance are identified. The appraisal method may assume a variety of characteristics, including time and effort, makeup of the appraisal team, and the method and depth of investigation.
- Plan, schedule, and prepare for the process appraisal.
- Conduct the process appraisal.
- Document and deliver the appraisal’s activities and findings.
Identify improvements to the organization’s processes and process assets.
- Analysis of candidate process improvements
- Identification of improvements for the organization’s processes
Subpractices
Process actions that address improvements to the organization’s processes and process assets are planned and implemented.
The successful implementation of improvements requires participation in process action planning and implementation by process owners, those performing the process, and support organizations.
Establish and maintain process action plans to address improvements to the organization’s processes and process assets.
This involvement helps to obtain buy-in on process improvements and increases the likelihood of effective deployment.
Process action plans are detailed implementation plans. These plans differ from the organization’s process improvement plan by targeting improvements that were defined to address weaknesses, usually uncovered by appraisals.
Tip
Depending on the magnitude of the improvement, a process action plan can look similar to a project plan. If the improvement is small, the plan can look similar to a plan for a routine maintenance activity.
Suppliers may be involved in developing process action plans if the processes that define interfaces between the acquirer and supplier are targeted for improvement.
Typical Work Products
- The organization’s approved process action plans
Subpractices
- Identify strategies, approaches, and actions to address identified process improvements.
- Establish process action teams to implement actions.
Process action teams typically include process owners and those who perform the process. Process action teams may also include supplier representatives when suppliers interact with the acquirer process to be improved or provide supplemental resources to the acquirer to perform an acquirer process.
- Document process action plans.
- Review and negotiate process action plans with relevant stakeholders.
- Review process action plans as necessary.
Implement process action plans.
Tip
Depending on the size of the organization and the extent of the change, the implementation activity can take days, weeks, months, or even years. Legacy acquisition programs may need to tailor changes to recognize existing agreements with customers and suppliers or with other acquisition offices in a system of systems environment.
Typical Work Products
- Commitments among process action teams
- Status and results of implementing process action plans
- Plans for pilots
Subpractices
- Make process action plans readily available to relevant stakeholders.
- Negotiate and document commitments among process action teams and revise their process action plans as necessary.
- Track progress and commitments against process action plans.
- Conduct joint reviews with process action teams and relevant stakeholders to monitor the progress and results of process actions.
- Plan pilots needed to test selected process improvements.
- Review the activities and work products of process action teams.
- Identify, document, and track to closure issues encountered when implementing process action plans.
- Ensure that results of implementing process action plans satisfy the organization’s process improvement objectives.
The organizational process assets are deployed across the organization and process-related experiences are incorporated into organizational process assets.
The specific practices under this specific goal describe ongoing activities. New opportunities to benefit from organizational process assets and changes to them may arise throughout the life of each project. Deployment of standard processes and other organizational process assets must be continually supported in the organization, particularly for new projects at startup.
Deploy organizational process assets across the organization.
Deploying organizational process assets or changes to them should be performed in an orderly manner. Some organizational process assets or changes to them may not be appropriate for use in some parts of the organization (e.g., because of customer requirements or the current lifecycle phase being implemented). It is therefore important that those that are or will be executing the process, as well as other organization functions (e.g., training and quality assurance), be involved in the deployment as necessary.
Hint
Be sure to think about retiring the assets and work products that the change replaces. This activity is particularly important when acquisition organizations are dispersed regionally or globally.
Refer to the Organizational Process Definition process area for more information about how the deployment of organizational process assets is supported and enabled by the organization’s process asset library.
Typical Work Products
- Plans for deploying organizational process assets and changes to them across the organization
- Training materials for deploying organizational process assets and changes to them
- Documentation of changes to organizational process assets
- Support materials for deploying organizational process assets and changes to them
- Deploy organizational process assets across the organization.
Refer to the Organizational Training process area for more information about the coordination of training.
- Document changes to organizational process assets.
Documenting changes to organizational process assets serves two main purposes:
• To enable the communication of changes
• To understand the relationship of changes in the organizational process assets to changes in process performance and results
- Deploy changes that were made to organizational process assets across the organization.
- Provide guidance and consultation on the use of organizational process assets.
Deploy the organization’s set of standard processes to projects at their startup and deploy changes to them, as appropriate, throughout the life of each project.
It is important that new projects use proven and effective processes to perform critical early activities (e.g., project planning, receiving requirements, and obtaining resources).
Hint
Project startup is the first and least expensive opportunity to get it right. Consider using experienced teams to help guide a project through high-risk areas selecting from and tailoring the organization’s set of standard processes to mitigate project risk.
Projects should also periodically update their defined processes to incorporate the latest changes made to the organization’s set of standard processes when it will benefit them. This periodic update helps to ensure that all project activities derive the full benefit of what other projects have learned.
Refer to the Organizational Process Definition process area for more information about the organization’s set of standard processes and tailoring guidelines.
Typical Work Products
- The organization’s list of projects and the status of process deployment on each (i.e., existing and planned projects)
- Guidelines for deploying the organization’s set of standard processes on new projects
- Records of tailoring and implementing the organization’s set of standard processes
Subpractices
- Identify projects in the organization that are starting up.
- Identify active projects that would benefit from implementing the organization’s current set of standard processes.
- Establish plans to implement the organization’s current set of standard processes on the identified projects.
- Assist projects in tailoring the organization’s set of standard processes to meet their needs.
Refer to the Integrated Project Management process area for more information about tailoring the organization’s set of standard processes to meet the unique needs and objectives of the project.
- Maintain records of tailoring and implementing processes on the identified projects.
- Ensure that the defined processes resulting from process tailoring are incorporated into plans for process-compliance evaluations.
Process-compliance audits are objective evaluations of project activities against the project’s defined process.
- As the organization’s set of standard processes are updated, identify which projects should implement the changes.
Monitor the implementation of the organization’s set of standard processes and use of process assets on all projects.
By monitoring implementation, the organization ensures that the organization’s set of standard processes and other process assets are appropriately deployed to all projects. Monitoring implementation also helps the organization develop an understanding of the organizational process assets being used and where they are used in the organization. Monitoring also helps to establish a broader context for interpreting and using process and product measures, lessons learned, and improvement information obtained from projects.
Hint
It is important not to limit improvement activities to just a few projects in your portfolio. Even legacy or small projects will benefit from the planned adoption of better process.
Typical Work Products
- Results of monitoring process implementation on projects
- Status and results of process-compliance audits
- Results of reviewing selected process artifacts created as part of process tailoring and implementation
Subpractices
- Monitor projects for their use of the organization’s process assets and changes to them.
- Review selected process artifacts created during the life of each project.
Reviewing selected process artifacts created during the life of a project ensures that all projects are making appropriate use of the organization’s set of standard processes.
- Review results of process-compliance audits to determine how well the organization’s set of standard processes has been deployed.
Refer to the Process and Product Quality Assurance process area for more information about objectively evaluating processes against applicable process descriptions, standards, and procedures.
- Identify, document, and track to closure issues related to implementing the organization’s set of standard processes.
Incorporate process-related work products, measures, and improvement information derived from planning and performing the process into organizational process assets.
X-Ref
Practices in IPM, OPF, and OPD are tightly related. OPD defines the organizational assets. OPF manages them, deploys them across the organization, and collects feedback. IPM uses the assets on the project and provides feedback to the organization.
Typical Work Products
- Process improvement proposals
- Process lessons learned
- Measurements of organizational process assets
- Improvement recommendations for organizational process assets
- Records of the organization’s process improvement activities
- Information on organizational process assets and improvements to them
Subpractices
- Conduct periodic reviews of the effectiveness and suitability of the organization’s set of standard processes and related organizational process assets relative to the organization’s business objectives.
- Obtain feedback about the use of organizational process assets.
- Derive lessons learned from defining, piloting, implementing, and deploying organizational process assets.
- Make lessons learned available to people in the organization, as appropriate.
Actions may be necessary to ensure that lessons learned are used appropriately.
- Analyze the organization’s common set of measures.
Refer to the Measurement and Analysis process area for more information about analyzing measures.
X-Ref
Common sets of measures are usually kept in the organization’s measurement repository, established in OPD.
Refer to the Organizational Process Definition process area for more information about establishing an organizational measurement repository, including common measures.
- Appraise processes, methods, and tools in use in the organization and develop recommendations for improving organizational process assets.
- Make the best of the organization’s processes, methods, and tools available to people in the organization, as appropriate.
- Manage process improvement proposals.
Process improvement proposals can address both process and technology improvements.
Process improvement proposals are documented as process change requests or problem reports, as appropriate.
Some process improvement proposals may be incorporated into the organization’s process action plans.
- Establish and maintain records of the organization’s process improvement activities.