Here s a summary list of things you should do and things you should not do when first starting out on your organization s process improvement journey using CMMI:
Assume that the organization in which you want to make improvement has already evolved some good management and engineering practices that can be incrementally improved using CMMI as a guide.
Identify, acknowledge , and recognize the existing good management and engineering practices or process strengths.
Identify any existing organizational standards that you can leverage.
Look for evolved business practices in areas of the business that aren t specifically identified as process areas in CMMI.
Find out what the organization s history (if any) for change and process improvement is.
Base the documented processes and procedures first on what people are already doing and then begin the improvements.
Have an open mind; learn as much as you can about the organization and its people before you try to make improvements or implement CMMI.
Don t assume that the organization already has some good engineering or management practices or standards already in place. (Even if you think this, don t say it publicly .)
Don t throw away or ignore evolved business practices that can be used as a springboard for CMMI-based improvement.
Don t assume that just because people in an organization have been doing something or doing something a particular way that it still has business value. Legacy practices and standards can sometimes be a barrier to process improvement efforts.
Don t take the attitude that the organization is in terrible shape and the only thing that will save it is you and CMMI ” you will absolutely fail every time!