Audit Stepping Stones: a Graduated Approach to Introducing CMMI Process and Product Quality Assurance 
Margo Rice
Lead Quality Assurance Auditor
Project Performance Corporation

Introduction:

Implementation of CMMI Level 2 Process Areas is often accompanied by significant shift in organizational culture and values. This transition can be eased by taking a graduated approach to introducing audit criteria. This presentation summarizes a successful approach to introducing process and product audits.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand CMMI Process and Product Quality Assurance Requirements
  • Understand Graduated Stages of Audit Criteria
    • Case Study Example

Outline:

  • CMMI Process and Product Quality Assurance Requirements
    • Summary of PPQA Requirements.
    • Importance of interpreting “…applicable process descriptions, standards and procedures”
  • Case Study
    • Background on organization
      • Size
      • Diversity of Products and Services
    • Graduated Stages of Product Audit Criteria
      • Step 1 – Evaluate Editorial Quality
      • Graph – Nonconformance trend
      • Step 2 - Evaluate Product Reviews
      • Graph – Nonconformance trend
      • Step 3 – Evaluate Specific Subject Matter Standards
    • Graduated Stages of Process Audit Criteria
      • Step 1 – Specific Practice Compliance
      • Graph – Nonconformance trend
      • Step 2 – Specific Process Artifact Compliance
      • Graph – Nonconformance trend
      • Step 3 – Specific Process Artifacts and Traceability (full Process Adherence)

Biography:

Margo Rice, Lead Quality Assurance Auditor with Project Performance Corporation has 5 years experience in system design, testing and quality assurance. Margo has recently completed a rapid implementation of CMMI Level 2 and 3 process areas and is currently participating in an organizational implementation of CMMI Level 2 process areas. Margo is experienced in project management and system development best practices, having established corporate procedures and performance standards as well as System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and requirements documentation for federal clients.

Margo has participated as an examiner in the U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Awards program for Virginia (SPQA).