FASTRACK to CMMI®
Al Florence
The MITRE Corporation

Introduction:

When improving processes in organizations the following often occurs:

• Process Improvement (PI) is done for process sake
• Management wants immediate feedback
• Staff fails to “buy-in” to PI
• PI efforts linger forever, are ignored, fail, or are cancelled
• Recidivism sets in

The solution may be in FAST TRACK to PI . A process that is in need of time critical improvement is quickly implemented without much of the fanfare and tedious documentation that bogs down PI efforts. The process is quickly defined and executed immediately as a pilot. During the pilot's execution, the process is refined as necessary and the process documentation is enhanced as required. Data and artifacts are collected on the pilot's execution which may be used as proof that the process is or is not successful and for continued process improvement. Additional FAST TRACK pilots are executed as necessary throughout the PI efforts.

FAST TRACK implementation provides:

• Early results to management
• Buy-in by from senior management and staff
• Momentum to continue
• Early process execution and artifact collection
• Proof that process works
• On-the-fly maturing of the processes
• PI done for business sake

Biography:

Mr. Florence, at major technology firms (currently at The MITRE Corporation), has been involved in all phases of the life cycle in engineering and management on diversified projects: spacecraft; aircraft; missiles, weapon systems; particle accelerators and information systems. He has developed processes for all CMM ® Key Process Areas at all levels through Level 5 and is currently involved with CMMI ® Process Areas. He is a frequent conference presenter and has many technical publications. Mr. Florence holds a BS degree from the University of New Mexico in mathematics and physics and has done graduate work in computer science at the University of California in Los Angles and University of Southern California.