Generic Goals and Practices

Generic goals are required model components that apply to all process areas. Figure 5.4 illustrates the generic goals and practices. All of the generic goals and practices are used in the continuous representation. The capability level you are targeting for your improvement effort will determine which generic goals and practices you will apply to the process area you've selected.

Figure 5.4. Generic Practices Mapped to Common Features

In the staged representation, only generic goals 2 and 3 are used, as illustrated by the goals and practices highlighted in gray in Figure 5.4. When you try to reach maturity level 2, you use the process areas at maturity level 2 as well as generic goal 2 and the generic practices at level 2.

Notice that generic goals 4 and 5 are not used. This is because not all processes will be "raised" above a defined process. Only select processes and subprocesses will be quantitatively managed and optimized and these processes are addressed by the process areas at maturity levels 4 and 5 in the staged representation.

When you reach maturity levels 3, 4, and 5, you use the process areas at the appropriate maturity levels as well as all of those at the lower maturity levels. In addition, generic goal 3 and the generic practices at levels 2 and 3 are applied to all of these process areas. This means that even though you have already achieved a maturity level 2 rating, to achieve a maturity level 3 rating you must return to the maturity level 2 process areas and apply generic goal 3 and the level 3 generic practices.

Common Features

A concept unique to the staged representation is common features. Common features are model components that are not rated in any way. They are groupings that provide a way to present the generic practices. Figure 5.4 shows how the generic practices are organized under common features within a process area.

Four common features organize the generic practices of each process area:

• Ability to Perform

• Commitment to Perform

• Directing Implementation

• Verifying Implementation

Ability to Perform groups the generic practices related to ensuring that the process is ready for execution (e.g., there is a plan for performing the process, there are adequate resources for performing it, responsibilities are assigned, and those who perform it have the knowledge and skills they need).

Commitment to Perform groups the generic practices related to creating policies and securing sponsorship.

Directing Implementation groups the generic practices related to managing the performance of the process (e.g., monitoring actual performance of the process against the plan, managing the integrity of its work products, and involving relevant stakeholders).

Verifying Implementation groups the generic practices related to review by higher level management and objective evaluation of conformance to process descriptions, procedures, and standards.

The difference between the way generic goals and practices are applied in the continuous and staged representations brings us back to the question of equivalence. How can these two representations be functionally equivalent if they do not apply the same generic goals and practices? We will answer this question in the section called "Equivalent Staging," but first let's summarize and compare the concepts by representation.