Appraisals
MDM offers CMMI appraisals to support, enable, and encourage your organization’s commitment to process improvement.

The CMMI appraisal method has two primary objectives:
Support, enable, and encourage an organization’s commitment to process improvement.
- Provide an accurate picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the organization’s current process, using the CMMI® as a reference model, and identify areas for improvement.
If you are just starting out you may wish to take advantage of the on-line CMMI Virtual Advisor assessment. For a relatively small fee you can get an idea of your organization's strengths and weaknesses. Go to http://www.assessyourcapability.com/ to get started. Please use code MDM2016. We will be happy to discuss your results with you and consider what the best next steps might be.
Please call us to discuss scheduling an appraisal if that is your next step.
APPRAISAL TYPES
A Benchmark appraisal (SCAMPI for a V1.3 model)
typically requires four to eight people plus a Lead Appraiser for 5 to 10 days, depending on the complexity and scope of the appraisal. Teams are recommended to have a mix of organization and outside members. Because of the considerable cost associated with formal appraisals, they must be scheduled to provide maximum benefit to the organization. The normal output of a CMMI appraisal is a findings briefing which includes Process Area strengths and weaknesses and Process Maturity Level satisfaction. A written final report is optional.
Evaluation appraisal (SCAMPI-B or SCAMPI-C for V1.3 models)
is a reduced-scale appraisal where a trained and experienced appraiser from outside the organization, working with organization personnel, reviews the documented processes and implementation evidence and conducts several group interviews. The purpose of the mini-appraisal is to provide an independent verification of self-appraisal results and provide suggestions for improvements based on an independent review. The mini-appraisal findings are generally quite accurate.
A Mentored Self-Appraisal (MSA)
requires a trained and experienced Lead Appraiser who provides CMMI® training and administers a self-appraisal in a group setting with selected organization members. The purpose of the MSA is to ensure that an organization understands the meaning and intent of the model and to provide an independent validation of the self-appraisal results. Accuracy of MSA findings tends to be fair, with the cost and organization disruption being low. The MSA is quite useful as an initial organization activity to provide understanding of the model and the organization’s processes at a relatively low cost.
APPRAISAL LIFE CYCLE
APPRAISAL STARTUP
- Determine organization sponsor's appraisal needs and goals
Identify appraisal scope
Identify site coordinator*
Agree on appraisal outputs
* The site coordinator, a critical position, ensures sponsor involvement, identifies and supports appraisal participants and appraisal team members, secures facilities, equipment and supplies, and provides adequate documentary evidence. An Appraisal Preparation Guide is available to assist organizations in carrying out those responsibilities.
APPRAISAL PLANNING
Develop appraisal plan
Select appraisal participants
Select appraisal team members
Prepare and train the team
Prepare document evidence
Prepare organization facilities
- Select appraisal interviewees
APPRAISAL EXECUTION
Conduct initial document review
Conduct opening meeting
Interview key organization personnel
Consolidate information
Prepare and present draft findings and final findings
- Conduct executive session
APPRAISAL CLOSEDOWN
Wrap up appraisal
Capture lessons learned
Get team member feedback
- Submit appraisal documents to CMMI Institute
For more information on appraisals go here.