THE MODEL AND THE REALITY

In CMMI, the process areas SAM and ISM provide guidelines for establishing and implementing processes for managing the relationships with suppliers of products to the project or organization. It is easy enough to understand how the practices in these two process areas apply to software and systems projects, yet their applicability to other types of acquisitions is not so obvious. With a little imagination and courage, organizations can also use the principles and practices in these two process areas to improve their management of the relationships with the suppliers of services. In this regard, one of the fundamental philosophies underlying this book is revealed: Process capability and organizational maturity is good not only for software and systems engineering, it is also good for every aspect of the business and every endeavor in which the business engages.

This chapter explains how to use the principles of acquisition management (SAM and ISM) to improve the acquisition of process expertise and tools.