Cmmi Vs Xp
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Recent (2004 Feb) posts to the Wiki:XpMailingList :
An initial answer to the CmmiVsXp question is provided in this FAQ: http://www.jera.com/techinfo/xpfaq.html.
This sure will make for an interesting conversation. Dominic is right-
getting to know the background of your needs and requirements as well as
end objectives would help guide this conversation.
As starters, the XP world per se is totally open to the tenets of CMM.
XP is about change; CMM says preempt and document change!; XP is about
being flexible to adapt to the needs of the situation and attendant
problem; CMM says.....change the situation to fit into the 'defined
processes'
Be open to change; be flexible and agile to the needs of the business
and don't let the means bog down the end objective...that's XP. You
could choose the size of the suit that fits you best....
I have been sneered at; jeered at CMM conferences in as much as
mentioning the word XP. You will not be laughed at even if you are a
'CMM-5' aspirant
CMM has a better marketing/sales fizz around it--the XP world has to
catch on. Working for and heading consulting organizations, I have had
to resort to 'CMM level' bs to get clients' buy in...I feel guilty...but
I have to get the 'greens'
I got a bit of XP implemented even in a DW project (4 mills and 25
people)...split up the project teams according to functional areas and
datamart by datamart we could do XP...defying some common perceptions
about small teams....all in one room concept...that was a victory for
agility; defiance and spirit of change...did I say
change/experiment/evolve...are part of my tryst with XP!
I am supremely lucky to find a client that appreciates the XP
values...we are XPing? along...in our own unique ways...even while we are
shores apart (XP is not possible across offices!!...talk about
change/experiment/evolve)
I am happy to save my organization 30k + USD on CMM certification
process (consulting et al); we do follow processes; we do document what
is necessary; we do review...all the time ...not for the sake of
it...but for the need
Don't pass this email to a CMM aficionado...there'd be a 'wanted' poster
out there!
And welcome aboard !!
SaifAhmad?
As an organization with a CMM Level 3 assessment and XP-inspired
practices in the development organization, there is some confusion in
this thread.
- CMMi? is the current assessment model, not CMM
- CMMi? is about the work processes and their artifacts to assess the maturity of the performing organization, not about the method used to develop software.
- SEI is not "vendor" of CMMi?. There are commercial assessment process providers.
- Mapping CMMi? process areas (PA) to XP work processes has been done. Both SEI and other source have papers on this topic.
In the end XP is a "work process" for developing software. CMMi? is a
framework for assessing the effectiveness of this and many other work
processes. A quick list of these processes includes:
- Decision analysis and resolution
- Integrated project management
- Organizational process definition
- Organizational training
- Project monitoring and control
- Project planning
- Requirements development
- Requirements management
- Risk management
- Technical solution process area
- Validation
- Verification
- Configuration management
XP process can be found in each of these process areas. BUT reversing
the search - finding CMMi? in XP is not recommended, since many gaps will
appear. Our success has been to NOT say XP is CMMi? compliant, but that
XP is a software development process to deliver the technical solution.
That way we don't get into the philosophical issues, and focus on the
macro-level delivery processes, of which XP is but one important part.
Glen B. Alleman
CH2M HILL
Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
[email protected]
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