Many organizations have looked at the original CMMI for Development model, and wished that it was applicable to more than just the design and development of products and systems.  They hoped to share in the widespread success organizations have had using the model in improving their productivity, predictability, and delivered quality. However their business involved service delivery rather than products creation and the CMMI was not for them, until now.

Recently, the SEI released a new version of the CMMI model, CMMI for Services.  This model is based on the same concepts and principles as the original CMMI for Development model, but its focus and emphasis is on service delivery organizations.  Service organizations in such diverse fields as education, health care, telecommunications, and hospitality have begun using CMMI for Services as their standard and framework for process improvement and organizational performance.  Built on more than 20 years of success and experience, the new release of the CMMI model is especially valuable for organizations that are already using the original CMMI model in their development work, but that have been looking for a suitable way to apply the model to the service-oriented parts of their business, such as installation and field support, training, and Information Technology (IT) services.

PEP, Inc. is pleased to announce that it is among the first organizations certified by the SEI to teach the new 3-day Introduction to CMMI for Services course. In addition, also is authorized to teach the one-day CMMI for Services supplement intended for people who are interested in the Services model and who have already completed the Introduction to CMMI for Development course.  PEP partners are also certified as High Maturity SCAMPI Lead Appraisers for both the Development and Services models.

AAI Corporation Earns CMMI Level 3

Assessment Signifies Engineering and Project Management Excellence

Hunt Valley, Md. – January 20, 2010 — AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that the company has been appraised to Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI®) Level 3. Covering systems engineering and project management functions within AAI’s Hunt Valley, Md., Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Test & Training Systems and Advanced Systems organizations, the successful December 2009 assessment was led by Mark Rabideau, a licensed lead assessor and Six Sigma master black belt from Process Enhancement Partners, Inc. appraisal to CMMI Level 3 is an explicit requirement in many U.S. military development solicitations.

The CMMI five-level model was developed by the Software Engineering Institute, a federally funded research and development center principally funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. Within the internationally recognized five-level guide to process improvement, Level 3 is titled “Defined,” which means that processes are proactive and tailored for the organization. Level 3 organizations such as AAI can configure and deploy processes to meet the unique circumstances of each development effort, then share best practices and data across the organization for continuous improvement.

AAI previously secured and maintains a CMMI Level 5 assessment for its systems software function. CMMI Level 5 is titled “ Optimizing,” and is an indication that the organization is focused on data-driven process improvement.

“At AAI, we have a culture of continuous improvement, grounded in the fact that the smarter and more efficiently we work, the faster we can make our products and services available to the troops that need them,” says Senior Vice President and General Manager Ellen Lord. “AAI’s achievement of CMMI Level 3 in program management and systems engineering, along with reappraisal of the software function at Level 5, highlight our ability to be both agile and competent in the application of engineering and management to development and integration of systems.”

About AAI

AAI Corporation and its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries Aerosonde Pty Ltd and ESL Defence Limited design, produce and support industry-leading aerospace and defense products and services, including unmanned aircraft and ground control technologies; high-fidelity training and simulation systems; automated aerospace test and maintenance equipment; armament systems; and logistical, engineering, supply chain and operational support services. AAI Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.aaicorp.com.

About Textron Systems

Textron Systems Corporation has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 50 years. Known for its unmanned aircraft systems, advanced marine craft, armored vehicles, intelligent battlefield and surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, precision smart weapons, piston engines, test and training systems, and total life cycle sustainment services, Textron Systems includes AAI Corporation, Lycoming Engines, Overwatch, Textron Defense Systems and Textron Marine & Land Systems. Textron Systems Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.

PEP is very pleased to announce our new logo.  After much work and thought we have finally completed work on its creation.

PEP Logo

The logo itself is copyright Process Enhancement Partners, Inc. and registered via Registered Commons.

PEP is pleased to announce that both Judah Mogilensky and Mark Rabideau are now SEI Certified Lead Appraisers for Services and also SEI Certified Instructors for the SEI Services Supplement for CMMI v1.2. To quote the SEI:

SEI-Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraisers for Services can use the SCAMPI appraisal materials, including appraisal team training materials, only to train appraisal teams and to lead appraisals on behalf of an SEI CMMI for Services Partner. SEI-Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraisers cannot use the materials to conduct appraisals independently or on behalf of organizations that are not licensed by CMU/SEI to conduct CMMI for Services appraisals. SEI-Authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraisers using CMMI for Services are not authorized to complete a SCAMPI A appraisal until 6 months after the release of the CMMI-Services Model.

As for the Services Supplement offering the SEI states:

This one-day course introduces service providers, appraisal team members, and process group members to CMMI® fundamental concepts related to service delivery. The CMMI for Services (CMMI-SVC) model defines effective practices that ensure quality services are delivered to customers and end users. Some types of services that would benefit from using CMMI-SVC include operations, logistics, maintenance, IT, and many other services in other government and industry.

Today Judah was featured in the SEPG Today publication.

Judah Mogilensky of Process Enhancement Partners, led an interactive afternoon mini-tutorial about using organizational maps and sculpts to learn why a process program is stuck.

He led attendees in a hands-on exercise on how to draw visual organizational maps to answer a question about their organization. A visual representation enabled attendees to see organizational challenges and opportunities in ways they otherwise wouldn’t. A sculpt, which is physically putting people into the roles symbolized in the map, allowed attendees to ask the people how it feels to be in those roles.

As of 20 March 2009, both Judah Mogilensky and Mark Rabideau have been certified by the SEI (Software Engineering Institute) as High Maturity SCAMPI Lead Appraisers (HMLA) for CMMI for Development. This role now appears under Process Enhancement Partners listing on the SEI Partner Directory. To quote the SEI:

SEI-Certified SCAMPI High Maturity Lead Appraisers (SCAMPI HM LAs) lead trained teams of professionals in the appraisal[...]  determine an organization’s process capability and/or maturity level.

Before [...] become[ing] a SCAMPI HM LA, you must

• Be a current SEI-Authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraiser in good standing
• Present evidence of having led at least two CMMI SCAMPI A Appraisals. (Note: CMM appraisal experience will not be accepted to this requirement.)
• Present successful completion of at least one course relevant to CMMI high maturity concepts and practices, (e.g., High Maturity with Statistics, Statistical Measurement, and Statistical Process Control). Qualifying courses must have been completed within the last five years.
• Show experience working in a high maturity process improvement environment in one of the following three areas:
  • Building/implementing HM practices or participation on at least one CMMI SCAMPI A Capability Level/Maturity Level 4 and/or 5 Appraisal as a team member or mini-team member
  • Developing/facilitating  HM training
  • Statistical/quantitative management or modeling & simulation experience in support of managing/building products.

On February 26, 2009, the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) announced the release of its much anticipated CMMI for Services (CMMI-SVC). Just as the CMMI model extended the coverage of the original Software CMM to also include development of hardware and systems products, this new CMMI model covers the establishment, management, and delivery of services. Services may include Information Technology support services, field installation and maintenance services, training services, transportation services, and even areas far removed from typical CMMI engineering domains, such as health care, landscaping, and delivery services. More details, and access to the full text of the model, can be found at: http://www.sei.cmu.edu/publications/documents/09.reports/09tr001.html

The SEI has recognized PEP, Inc. as an early adopter of the CMMI-SVC model, as a result of our work in support of training and use case development. Both PEP partners are now authorized by the SEI to provide the following services:

• Teach the one-day CMMI for Services supplement, designed to provide background on the new model to people who have already completed the three-day Introduction to the CMMI-DEV course, Version 1.2. (This training qualifies a person to be a Team Member on a CMMI-SVC SCAMPI team.)
• Lead SCAMPI appraisals (classes A, B, and C) using the CMMI-SVC model. (Note that, since the model is newly released, the SEI will not be accepting SCAMPI-A appraisal results against the CMMI-SVC model until September, 2009.)

(Please also note that a new three-day Introduction to the CMMI-SVC course, one that will not address the Development model, is now under development at the SEI. PEP is supporting the development of this course, and plans to make it available to clients once it is released by the SEI.)

This new model will be especially valuable for organizations that perform both engineering development and services delivery. These organizations will now be able to expand the coverage of their CMMI-based process improvement activities to include their service delivery activities. It will also allow new organizations, ones that provide services but perform little or no engineering development, to gain the benefits of CMMI-based process improvement. The increases in delivered quality, in work efficiency, and in effort predictability that have been realized by development groups for many years will now be available to service delivery groups as well.

For more information on the CMMI-SVC model, and how it can help improve the performance of your organization, please contact PEP.

Process Enhancement Partners is pleased to announce that both Judah Mogilensky and Mark Rabideau are now licensed (certified) to provide consulting and appraisal support for the new SEI CMMI-SVC (Services) Constellation (Model). (The SEI provides a brief overview on the newest constellation for your review.)

To quote the SEI:

“The CMMI for Services (CMMI-SVC) model, scheduled for release in mid-March 2009, was instead released in February 2009. To download your copy, see the CMMI for Services, Version 1.2 publication page.”

Office Directory

PEP maintains its corporate offices in Franktown, Colorado. Please contact PEP’s Colorado Corporate Office for all/ any:

• Pricing,
• Bidding requests (RFI, RFQ, RFP,etc.),
• Partnering,
• Billing,
• Invoicing, or
• Scheduling information.

Our corporate office address particulars are:

• Process Enhancement Partners, Inc.
• 711 Nob Hill Trail
• Franktown, Colorado USA
• 80116-8717
• Main Office Phone: +1 (303) 660-9400
• Fax Number: +1 (303) 660-9217
• Business Manager/ Controller: Becky Rabideau
• PEP Partner/ Consultant: Mark Rabideau

Maryland Office

• Process Enhancement Partners, Inc.
• 1902 Rookwood Road
• Silver Spring, Maryland USA
• 20910
• Consultant/ Office Phone Number: +1 (301) 589-1037
• Office Fax Number: +1 (301) 589-0524
• PEP Partner/ Consultant: Judah Mogilensky

Our snail mail is:

Process Enhancement Partners, Inc.

711 Nob Hill Trail
Franktown, Colorado USA
80116-8717
Main Office Phone: +1 (303) 660-9400
Fax Number: +1 (303) 660-9217

Or if you prefer you may use this form to contact PEP directly using the form below!

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