Innovate through CMMI
Review by Sarabjeet Singh Kanwal
CMMI Distilled 
by Dennis M. Ahern, Aaron Clouse and Richard Turner
Pearson Education; Pages 305; Price Rs 225

Process improvement is an accepted and well-defined means of achieving quality and productivity gains for software development.

Though many aspects of process improvement are applicable to various engineering disciplines, the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) initially focussed on development activities in the field of software engineering only. This book also focusses on the same.

As the authors explains, the book tries to help the organisations involved in time critical development of complex systems, to understand how an integrated approach to process improvement can help mature their technical and management processes. This book is addressed to executives and team leaders of such organisations. Tools developed by CMMI project designed for multidiscipline process improvement are described in this book.

The first part of the book introduces the reader to the concepts of integrated process improvement and the reasons to follow it. It also provides the cost benefits of the process. You will read the guiding principles of how process improvement integration works in the small and large organisations so as to increase the likelihood of success. "Pearls of Wisdom" teaches the practical lessons learnt from various organisations working in this field. It will also help in building an integrated improvement infrastructure.

The second part of the book explains the CMMI contents, objectives, limitations and history. It described the job of CMMI team. CMMI philosophy, architecture and models are also present. The authors describe two model representations — staged and continuous. These representations are depicted in detail by explaining how both these representations guide and measure the improvement of processes. The role of generic practices in CMMI is explained. Relationship between goals, practices and improvement dimensions is provided.

In part three, the authors provide their practical experience in the using the CMMI products. The heuristics for selecting models and representations for a specific organisation are provided. It also suggests how to make estimates to use CMMI products in an organisation to enhance the probability of success. You will read the merits and demerits of both staged and continuous representation and the logic to decide which is better in a particular situation. Reasons for linking staged models and reasons of linking continuous models have been elucidated.

The fourth section provides a thoughtful and lengthy view about the future of CMMI. There are creative persons who apply new techniques to do the things in a better way. This leads to evolution in a process. With the passage of time, CMMI should adapt to the changing environment and the change in requirements of the users. The book encourages the readers to discuss the existing techniques and innovate new ways.