Choices that affect a CMMI-based appraisal include the following:

· CMMI model

· Appraisal scope, including the organizational unit to be appraised, the CMMI process areas to be investigated, and the maturity level or capability levels to be appraised

· Appraisal method

· Appraisal team leader and team members

· Appraisal participants selected from the appraisal entities to be interviewed

· Appraisal outputs (e.g., ratings, instantiation-specific findings)

· Appraisal constraints (e.g., time spent on site)

The SCAMPI MDD allows the selection of predefined options for use in an appraisal. These appraisal options are designed to help organizations align CMMI with their business needs and objectives.

CMMI appraisal plans and results should always include a description of the appraisal options, model scope, and organizational scope selected. This documentation confirms whether an appraisal meets the requirements for benchmarking.

For organizations that wish to appraise multiple functions or groups, the integrated approach of CMMI enables some economy of scale in model and appraisal training. One appraisal method can provide separate or combined results for multiple functions.

The following appraisal principles for CMMI are the same as those principles used in appraisals for other process improvement models:

· Senior management sponsorship[1]

· A focus on the organization’s business objectives

· Confidentiality for interviewees

· Use of a documented appraisal method

· Use of a process reference model (e.g., a CMMI model)

· A collaborative team approach

· A focus on actions for process improvement