We need CMMI Level 3. What are the different types of appraisals, and which one do we need?

 We need to achieve a CMMI Level 3 Rating.  What are the different types of appraisals, and which one do we need? ~ Ima konFuse

Three tips for succeeding with CMMI

Dear Ima,

Great question!  It can be confusing sometimes. After all, there are four different appraisal types, and sometimes even Lead Appraisers seem confused about it.

I'll give you the short answer first.  If this is your first time 'round with CMMI, you'll need a "Benchmark Appraisal."  Let me explain:

Benchmark Appraisal

A Benchmark Appraisal is the "gold standard."  It's the only appraisal type that results in a first-time CMMI Rating.  It's evidence and resource intensive, requires a team size of four or more, and it led by a Certified CMMI Lead Appraiser.  The Lead Appraiser must also be certified in the Domain your are adopting at your company (CMMi Development or CMMI Services primarily, although there are six other lesser known domains).  Benchmark Appraisal Ratings have a validity perioud of three years.

Sustainment Appraisal

A Sustainment Appraisal is a special appraisal used to "extend" or renew the validity period of an existing rating, and can extend it for up to two more years.  There is a lower evidence and resource requirement as compared to the Benchmark, and it has a minimum team size of two.  The organization must "qualify" for the sustainment by convincing the Lead Appraiser and ISACA that not much has changed since the last successful Benchmark.  Large growth or contraction, change in management, and reorganization of the company are all examples of disqualifiers.   An organization can always conduct a Benchmark to renew their rating, in fact, most do.

Action Plan Reappraisal

"Back in the day" the SEI used to say "there are no delta appraisals."  That meant that if an organization did not reach CMMI ML3 in their appraisal, even by one single practices, the entire appraisal had to be conducted again.  This changed in V2 of the CMMI.  Now, if you fail by less then 5% of total practices, and the practices can be legitimately addressed within 120 days, then the team can reconvene and test those practices.  If they are all in the "Largely Met" or higher category, then the original Benchmark is updated to reflect the CMMI rating.  Like the Sustainment Appraisal, the Action Plan Reappraisal (APR) must be approved by the Lead Appraiser and ISACA.

Evaluation Appraisal

Prior to V2 of the CMMI, we had "SCAMPI A" (currently known and the Benchmark), "SCAMPI B" (often used as a practice run), and "SCAMPI C" (often used as a gap analysis tool).  Since V2, SCAMPI has been eliminated, and the "Evaluation Appraisal" serves to support what use to be SCAMPI B and C.  In other words, and Evaluation Appraisal is "whatever you want it to be."  This has caused significant confusion in the market, as many of our clients ran through a three phase cycle of "C, B, and A."  In order to compensate for that market confusion, Broadsword has "Evaluation B" and an Evaluation C" styled appraisals, giving our clients the same familiar experience they are accustomed to.

So - bottom line, you MUST have a Benchmark Appraisal to achieve CMMI ML3 (at least for the first time).

Like this blog?  Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec! 

Jeff Dalton is a Certified Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

What is CMMI?

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about running a successful CMMI program.

Visit CMMI-TV to see some cool videos about CMMI, Agile, and More

Visit https://askthecmmiappraiser.blogspot.com/ to see the old (V2) Blog (lots of content!)