Process area (CMMI)

The Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) defines a process area as, "a cluster of related practices in an area that, when implemented collectively, satisfies a set of goals considered important for making improvement in that area." Both CMMI for Development v1.3 and CMMI for Acquisition v1.3 identify 22 process areas, whereas CMMI for Services v1.3 identifies 24 process areas. Many of the process areas are the same in these three models.

Process Area Organization

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.

Maturity Levels: CMMI for Development

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 Management
• MA - Measurement and Analysis
• PMC - Project Monitoring and Control
• PP - Project Planning
• PPQA - Process and Product Quality Assurance
• REQM - Requirements Management
• SAM - Supplier Agreement Management

Maturity Level 3 - Defined

• DAR - Decision Analysis and Resolution
• IPM - Integrated Project Management
• OPD - Organizational Process Definition
• OPF - Organizational Process Focus
• OT - Organizational Training
• PI - Product Integration
• RD - Requirements Development
• RSKM - Risk Management
• TS - Technical Solution
• VAL - Validation
• VER - Verification

Maturity Level 4 - Quantitatively Managed

• OPP - Organizational Process Performance
• QPM - Quantitative Project Management

Maturity Level 5 - Optimizing

• CAR - Causal Analysis and Resolution
• OPM - Organizational Performance Management

Maturity Levels: CMMI for Services

The process areas below and their maturity levels are listed for the CMMI for Services model:

Maturity Level 2 - Managed

• CM - Configuration Management
• MA - Measurement and Analysis
• PPQA - Process and Product Quality Assurance
• REQM - Requirements Management
• SAM - Supplier Agreement Management
• SD - Service Delivery
• WMC - Work Monitoring and Control
• WP - Work Planning

Maturity 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 Management
• DAR - Decision Analysis and Resolution
• IRP - Incident Resolution and Prevention
• IWM - Integrated Work Management
• OPD - Organizational Process Definition
• OPF - Organizational Process Focus
• OT - Organizational Training
• RSKM - Risk Management
• SCON - Service Continuity
• SSD - Service System Development
• SST - Service System Transition
• STSM - Strategic Service Management

Maturity Level 4 - Quantitatively Managed

• OPP - Organizational Process Performance
• QPM - Quantitative Work Management

Maturity Level 5 - Optimizing

• CAR - Causal Analysis and Resolution
• OPM - Organizational Performance Management

Maturity Levels: CMMI for Acquisition

The process areas below and their maturity levels are listed for the CMMI for Acquisition model:

Maturity Level 2 - Managed

• AM - Agreement Management
• ARD - Acquisition Requirements Development
• CM - Configuration Management
• MA - Measurement and Analysis
• PMC - Project Monitoring and Control
• PP - Project Planning
• PPQA - Process and Product Quality Assurance
• REQM - Requirements Management
• SSAD - Solicitation and Supplier Agreement Development

Maturity Level 3 - Defined

• ATM - Acquisition Technical Management
• AVAL - Acquisition Validation
• AVER - Acquisition Verification
• DAR - Decision Analysis and Resolution
• IPM - Integrated Project Management
• OPD - Organizational Process Definition
• OPF - Organizational Process Focus
• OT - Organizational Training
• RSKM - Risk Management.

Maturity Level 4 - Quantitatively Managed

• OPP - Organizational Process Performance
• QPM - Quantitative Project Management

Maturity Level 5 - Optimizing

• CAR - Casual Analysis and Resolution
• OPM - Organization Performance Management

Goals 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 Goals GP 1.1 Perform Specific Practices
• GG 2 Institutionalize a Managed Process GP 2.1 Establish an Organizational Policy GP 2.2 Plan the Process GP 2.3 Provide Resources GP 2.4 Assign Responsibility GP 2.5 Train People GP 2.6 Control Work Products GP 2.7 Identify and Involve Relevant Stakeholders GP 2.8 Monitor and Control the Process GP 2.9 Objectively Evaluate Adherence GP 2.10 Review Status with Higher Level Management
• GG 3 Institutionalize a Defined Process GP 3.1 Establish a Defined Process GP 3.2 Collect Process Related Experiences

Specific 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.

Process Areas

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
• CMMI for Development
• CMMI for Services

Agreement Management (AM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

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 Agreements SP 1.1 Execute the Supplier Agreement SP 1.2 Monitor Selected Supplier Processes SP 1.3 Accept the Acquired Product SP 1.4 Manage Supplier Invoices

Capacity and Availability Management (CAM)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 Management SP 1.1 Establish a Capacity and Availability Management Strategy SP 1.2 Select Measures and Analytic Techniques SP 1.3 Establish Service System Representations
• SG 2 Monitor and Analyze Capacity and Availability SP 2.1 Monitor and Analyze Capacity SP 2.2 Monitor and Analyze Availability SP 2.3 Report Capacity and Availability Management Data

Causal Analysis and Resolution (CAR)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 5

Purpose

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 Outcomes SP 1.1 Select Outcomes for Analysis SP 1.2 Analyze Causes
• SG 2 Address Causes of Selected Outcomes SP 2.1 Implement Action Proposals SP 2.2 Evaluate the Effect of Implemented Actions SP 2.3 Record Causal Analysis Data

Configuration Management (CM)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

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 Baselines SP 1.1 Identify Configuration Items SP 1.2 Establish a Configuration Management System SP 1.3 Create or Release Baselines
• SG 2 Track and Control Changes SP 2.1 Track Change Requests SP 2.2 Control Configuration Items
• SG 3 Establish Integrity SP 3.1 Establish Configuration Management Records SP 3.2 Perform Configuration Audits

Decision Analysis and Resolution (DAR)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 Alternatives SP 1.1 Establish Guidelines for Decision Analysis SP 1.2 Establish Evaluation Criteria SP 1.3 Identify Alternative Solutions SP 1.4 Select Evaluation Methods SP 1.5 Evaluate Alternative Solutions SP 1.6 Select Solutions

Integrated Project Management (IPM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 Process SP 1.1 Establish the Project's Defined Process SP 1.2 Use Organizational Process Assets for Planning Project Activities SP 1.3 Establish the Project's Work Environment SP 1.4 Integrate Plans SP 1.5 Manage the Project Using the Integrated Plans SP 1.6 Establish Teams SP 1.7 Contribute to Organizational Process Assets
• SG 2 Coordinate and Collaborate with Relevant Stakeholders SP 2.1 Manage Stakeholder Involvement SP 2.2 Manage Dependencies SP 2.3 Resolve Coordination Issues

Measurement and Analysis (MA)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

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 Activities SP 1.1 Establish Measurement Objectives Resources, People, Facilities and Techniques. SP 1.2 Specify Measures Information Needs Document, Guidance, Reference and Reporting. SP 1.3 Specify Data Collection and Storage Procedures Sources, Methods, Frequency and Owners. SP 1.4 Specify Analysis Procedures Rules, Alarms, SPC and Variance.
• SG 2 Provide Measurement Results SP 2.1 Obtain Measurement Data Actual, Plan, Automatic and Manual. SP 2.2 Analyze Measurement Data Evaluate, Drill Down, RCA. SP 2.3 Store Data and Results Store, Secure, Accessible, History and Evidence. SP 2.4 Communicate Results Information Sharing, Dash Boards, Up to Date, Simple and Interpret.

Organizational Process Definition (OPD)

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 Assets SP 1.1 Establish Standard Processes SP 1.2 Establish Lifecycle Model Descriptions SP 1.3 Establish Tailoring Criteria and Guidelines SP 1.4 Establish the Organization's Measurement Repository SP 1.5 Establish the Organization's Process Asset Library SP 1.6 Establish Work Environment Standards SP 1.7 Establish Rules and Guidelines for Teams

Organizational Process Focus (OPF)

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 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 Improvements 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

Organizational Performance Management (OPM) / Organizational Innovation and Deployment

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 5

Purpose

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 Performance SP 1.1 Maintain Business Objectives SP 1.2 Analyze Process Performance Data SP 1.3 Identify Potential Areas for Improvement
• SG 2 Select Improvements SP 2.1 Elicit Suggested Improvements SP 2.2 Analyze Suggested Improvements SP 2.3 Validate Improvements SP 2.4 Select and Implement Improvements for Deployment
• SG 3 Deploy Improvements SP 3.1 Plan the Deployment SP 3.2 Manage the Deployment SP 3.3 Evaluate Improvement Effects

Organizational Process Performance (OPP)

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 4

Purpose

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 Models SP 1.1 Establish Quality and Process Performance Objectives SP 1.2 Select Processes SP 1.3 Establish Process Performance Measures SP 1.4 Analyze Process Performance and Establish Process Performance Baselines SP 1.5 Establish Process Performance Models

Organizational Training (OT)

• A Process Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 Capability SP 1.1 Establish Strategic Training Needs SP 1.2 Determine Which Training Needs Are the Responsibility of the Organization SP 1.3 Establish an Organizational Training Tactical Plan SP 1.4 Establish a Training Capability
• SG 2 Provide Training SP 2.1 Deliver Training SP 2.2 Establish Training Records SP 2.3 Assess Training Effectiveness

Product Integration (PI)

• An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 Integration SP 1.1 Establish an Integration Strategy SP 1.2 Establish the Product Integration Environment SP 1.3 Establish Product Integration Procedures and Criteria
• SG 2 Ensure Interface Compatibility SP 2.1 Review Interface Descriptions for Completeness SP 2.2 Manage Interfaces
• SG 3 Assemble Product Components and Deliver the Product SP 3.1 Confirm Readiness of Product Components for Integration SP 3.2 Assemble Product Components SP 3.3 Evaluate Assembled Product Components SP 3.4 Package and Deliver the Product or Product Component

Project Monitoring and Control (PMC)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

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 Plan SP 1.1 Monitor Project Planning Parameters SP 1.2 Monitor Commitments SP 1.3 Monitor Project Risks SP 1.4 Monitor Data Management SP 1.5 Monitor Stakeholder Involvement SP 1.6 Conduct Progress Reviews SP 1.7 Conduct Milestone Reviews
• SG 2 Manage Corrective Action to Closure SP 2.1 Analyze Issues SP 2.2 Take Corrective Action SP 2.3 Manage Corrective Actions

Project Planning (PP)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

The purpose of Project Planning (PP) is to establish and maintain plans that define project activities.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Establish Estimates SP 1.1 Estimate the Scope of the Project SP 1.2 Establish Estimates of Work Product and Task Attributes SP 1.3 Define Project Lifecycle Phases SP 1.4 Estimate Effort and Cost
• SG 2 Develop a Project Plan SP 2.1 Establish the Budget and Schedule SP 2.2 Identify Project Risks SP 2.3 Plan Data Management SP 2.4 Plan the Project's Resources SP 2.5 Plan Needed Knowledge and Skills SP 2.6 Plan Stakeholder Involvement SP 2.7 Establish the Project Plan
• SG 3 Obtain Commitment to the Plan SP 3.1 Review Plans that Affect the Project SP 3.2 Reconcile Work and Resource Levels SP 3.3 Obtain Plan Commitment

Process and Product Quality Assurance (PPQA)

• A Support process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

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 Products SP 1.1 Objectively Evaluate Processes SP 1.2 Objectively Evaluate Work Products
• SG 2 Provide Objective Insight SP 2.1 Communicate and Resolve Noncompliance Issues SP 2.2 Establish Records.

Quantitative Project Management (QPM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 4

Purpose

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 Management SP 1.1 Establish the Project's Objectives SP 1.2 Compose the Defined Processes SP 1.3 Select Subprocesses and Attributes SP 1.4 Select Measures and Analytic Techniques
• SG 2 Quantitatively Manage the Project SP 2.1 Monitor the Performance of Selected Subprocesses SP 2.2 Manage Project Performance SP 2.3 Perform Root Cause Analysis

Requirements Development (RD)

• An 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 Requirements SP 1.1 Elicit Needs SP 1.2 Transform Stakeholder Needs into Customer Requirements
• SG 2 Develop Product Requirements SP 2.1 Establish Product and Product Component Requirements SP 2.2 Allocate Product Component Requirements SP 2.3 Identify Interface Requirements
• SG 3 Analyze and Validate Requirements SP 3.1 Establish Operational Concepts and Scenarios SP 3.2 Establish a Definition of Required Functionality and Quality Attributes SP 3.3 Analyze Requirements SP 3.4 Analyze Requirements to Achieve Balance SP 3.5 Validate Requirements

Requirements Management (REQM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

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 Requirements SP 1.1 Understand Requirements SP 1.2 Obtain Commitment to Requirements SP 1.3 Manage Requirements Changes SP 1.4 Maintain Bidirectional Traceability of Requirements SP 1.5 Ensure Alignment Between Project Work and Requirements

Risk Management (RSKM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 Management SP 1.1 Determine Risk Sources and Categories SP 1.2 Define Risk Parameters SP 1.3 Establish a Risk Management Strategy
• SG 2 Identify and Analyze Risks SP 2.1 Identify Risks SP 2.2 Evaluate, Categorize, and Prioritize Risks
• SG 3 Mitigate Risks SP 3.1 Develop Risk Mitigation Plans SP 3.2 Implement Risk Mitigation Plans

Supplier Agreement Management (SAM)

• A Project Management process area at Maturity Level 2

Purpose

The purpose of Supplier Agreement Management (SAM) is to manage the acquisition of products from suppliers.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Establish Supplier Agreements SP 1.1 Determine Acquisition Type SP 1.2 Select Suppliers SP 1.3 Establish Supplier Agreements
• SG 2 Satisfy Supplier Agreements SP 2.1 Execute the Supplier Agreement SP 2.2 Accept the Acquired Product SP 2.3 Ensure Transition of Products

Technical Solution (TS)

• An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 Solutions SP 1.1 Develop Alternative Solutions and Selection Criteria SP 1.2 Select Product Component Solutions
• SG 2 Develop the Design SP 2.1 Design the Product or Product Component SP 2.2 Establish a Technical Data Package SP 2.3 Design Interfaces Using Criteria SP 2.4 Perform Make, Buy or Reuse Analyses
• SG 3 Implement the Product Design SP 3.1 Implement the Design SP 3.2 Develop Product Support Documentation

Validation (VAL)

• An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

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 Validation SP 1.1 Select Products for Validation SP 1.2 Establish the Validation Environment SP 1.3 Establish Validation Procedures and Criteria
• SG 2 Validate Product or Product Components SP 2.1 Perform Validation SP 2.2 Analyze Validation Results

Verification (VER)

• An Engineering process area at Maturity Level 3

Purpose

The purpose of Verification (VER) is to ensure that selected work products meet their specified requirements.

Specific Practices by Goal

• SG 1 Prepare for Verification SP 1.1 Select Work Products for Verification SP 1.2 Establish the Verification Environment SP 1.3 Establish Verification Procedures and Criteria
• SG 2 Perform Peer Reviews SP 2.1 Prepare for Peer Reviews SP 2.2 Conduct Peer Reviews SP 2.3 Analyze Peer Review Data
• SG 3 Verify Selected Work Products SP 3.1 Perform Verification SP 3.2 Analyze Verification Results

Changes made in Version 1.2

Only changes made to the set of Process Areas are considered here. For more information about the changes made to Version 1.2, see the or for the definitive list of changes, take the .

• 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 SG3 REQD – SP3.5 was renamed Validate Requirements SAM – SP2.1 was eliminated, two new SPs added in SG2 TS – SP1.2 was incorporated into RD SP 3.1 VER – SP3.2 was renamed Analyze Verification Results

Changes made in Version 1.3

Some 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 . An overview of the changes is described in .

Process Areas, Categories, and Maturity Levels

Table: Process Areas, Categories, and Maturity Levels

Official sources

• Capability Maturity Model
• Capability Maturity Model Integration

Further reading

• CMMI Product Team (November 2010). (PDF). Technical Report CMU/SEI-2010-TR-033. Software Engineering Institute. {{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

• Chrissis, Mary Beth; Mike Konrad; Sandy Shrum (Feb 16, 2011). CMMI: Guidelines for Process Integration and Product Improvement (Third ed.). Addison-Wesley Professional. ISBN 978-0-321-71150-2.