CMMI-ACQ: Guidelines for Improving the Acquisition of Products and Services (Sei Series in Software Engineering) - Hardcover

CMMI-ACQ (R) (Capability Maturity Model (R) Integration for Acquisition) describes best practices for the successful acquisition of products and services. Providing a practical framework for improving acquisition processes, CMMI-ACQ addresses the growing trend in business and government for organizations to purchase or outsource required products and services as an alternative to in-house development or resource allocation. Modeled after CMMI (R), Second Edition, which documented CMMI for Development, this book is the definitive reference for the current release of CMMI for Acquisition (version 1.2). In addition to the entire CMMI-ACQ model, the book includes tips, hints, cross-references, and other author notes to help you understand, apply, and find more information about the content of the acquisition process areas. The authors also have added two chapters to illustrate the application of CMMI-ACQ in industry (a case study from General Motors) and government. Whether you are new to CMMI models or are already familiar with one or more of them, you will find this book an essential resource for managing your acquisition processes and improving your overall performance. The book is divided into three parts. Part One introduces CMMI-ACQ in the broad context of CMMI models, including essential concepts and useful background. It then describes and shows the relationships among all the components of the CMMI-ACQ process areas, and explains paths to the adoption and use of the model for process improvement and benchmarking. Finally, two separate chapters describe special acquisition needs in a government environment and real experiences with CMMI-ACQ from industry. Part Two first describes generic goals and generic practices, and then, in twenty-two sections, details each of the CMMI-ACQ process areas, including specific goals, specific practices, and examples. These process areas are organized alphabetically by process area acronym to facilitate quick reference. Part Three provides several useful references, including sources for further information about CMMI and CMMI-ACQ, acronym definitions, a glossary of terms, and an index.

Brian P. Gallagher is director of ISR Mission Systems Engineering within the ISR Systems Division, Mission Systems Sector, Northrop Grumman. He was previously director of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Acquisition Program. Mike Phillips is program manager for CMMI at the SEI. In that position he leads the CMMI Product Suite evolution for the SEI. He was a senior acquisition professional in the military before joining the SEI. Dr. Karen J. Richter is a research analyst and senior project leader at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a research and development "think tank" for the Department of Defense. She has served on the CMMI Configuration Control Board and the CMMI Steering Group. Sandy Shrum is a senior writer/editor at the SEI. She has been with the SEI since 1995 and has been a member of the CMMI Development Team since the CMMI project's inception in 1998.