Prerequisites for Intermediate Concepts of CMMI Version 1.2 Course
Prerequisites for participation
| Course format
Evaluation areas | Expectations for successful completion of the course
Prerequisites for Participation in the Intermediate CMMI Course Version 1.2
Before taking this course, participants must
- Complete a formal SEI-authorized offering of Introduction to CMMI training,
which must be one of the following:
- An Introduction to CMMI Version 1.2 course
- o An Introduction to CMMI course (either staged representation or continuous representation, or the Introduction to CMMI course that covers both staged and continuous representations) plus CMMI Version 1.2 Upgrade Training
- Obtain experience with using the model before applying for the Intermediate
class (e.g., serving on an Engineering Process Group, mapping CMMI to the
organization's processes, or serving as a member of an appraisal team).
- Carefully study the full content of CMMI for Development
(available online) or the CMMI book, CMMI: Guidelines for Process Integration
and Product Improvement, Second Edition, by Chrissis, et. al., published
by Addison Wesley.
- Complete and submit an assigned exercise before attending the course, according
to instructions that will be supplied. This exercise will require 4-6 hours
of work for most participants.
- Be able to read, write, and speak understandable English. You will not pass
this course if you cannot demonstrate this requirement. We strongly recommend
that you provide your TOEFL score as demonstration of this prerequisite.
Throughout the course, you will be required to present technical concepts in English. Successful completion of this course is dependent on your class participation and presentations that will be evaluated for skill and comprehension.
Course Format
The Intermediate CMMI course is a required training component for the SCAMPI Lead Appraiser and Introduction to CMMI Instructor authorizations. These professional SEI authorizations require an in-depth understanding of CMMI models. The associated courses, including the Intermediate Concepts of CMMI course, consequently are much more demanding than most adult learning experiences. Each participant is required to demonstrate adequate model knowledge and the ability to explain CMMI-related concepts by completing an assigned exercise which involves preparing, submitting, and delivering a presentation on an assigned process area (PA), and by passing an end-of-course examination. Because each participant prepares a presentation on one process area, much of the course content is taught by the participants.
Completion Requirements
Participants are evaluated by the course instructors in two areas:- Class participation: Participants attend the entire course and contribute appropriately to class discussions.
- Ability to explain CMMI concepts: This ability is principally determined from the participants' presentation on their assigned PA, and secondarily through class participation.
Students gain knowledge through both participation in the class activities and
by researching, preparing, and presenting information on the assigned PA. That
knowledge is important to the student’s ability to pass a written CMMI
knowledge examination on the last day of class.
The instructors prepare an evaluation form for each student recording participation and presentation data that is kept on file at the SEI. Should the students proceed to additional SEI training that has this course as a prerequisite, the student evaluation is provided to subsequent instructors to help them focus on each student’s evaluated strengths and weaknesses.
To successfully pass this course, participants must demonstrate their knowledge of CMMI models by passing a written examination on the last day of class. Participants who scored 80% or higher on the test receive course completion credit.
Participants who score below 80% on the written examination do not receive course completion credit. If the participant does not receive course completion credit and desires to take additional SEI training that has this course as a prerequisite, the participant will be required to re-take this course and pass the written examination with a score of 80% or higher.
Because of the amount of preparation and model understanding required to be successful in this course, a minimum 90-day period is expected between completing the formal Introduction to CMMI Course and the start of the Intermediate Concepts of CMMI Course. During this period the participant is expected to complete all the prerequisites identified above.
It is important that course participants conduct an in-depth study Chapters 1-5 and Generic Goals and Practices (pp. 1-100) of the CMMI for Development Version 1.2 prior to the start of the course. These chapters cover the essentials of model structure, terminology, and generic goal and generic practice content. In addition, these chapters provide information regarding maturity levels and capability levels. Finally, a thorough study of the process area descriptions is also crucial to passing this course.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to do the following,
based on their course experience and their individual study of the CMMI for
Development:
- Identify the category and maturity level within which each process area resides.
- List the generic practices associated with generic goals 1-5.
- State the requirements for achieving maturity levels and capability levels.
- State the equivalent staging requirements for each maturity level.
- List key relationships between process areas and between process areas and generic practices.
- Identify the process areas in which descriptive content is addressed, down to and including specific practices.
- Define and differentiate between terms that have special or specific meaning in the CMMI-DEV, as found in the glossary and in the informative material within the process areas.
- Define and/or state the purpose of each model component.
Please note that course participants who have not prepared adequately prior to attending the Intermediate Concepts of CMMI course often have to invest long hours of evening study during the course to achieve adequate model knowledge. This is very difficult to do after full days of instruction.
Expectations for Successful Completion of the Intermediate Concepts of CMMI Version 1.2 Course
The Course Participant will satisfactorily:
- Understand the CMMI for Development model, address all prerequisites, and have experience working with the model prior to attending the course.
- Participate in class discussions and exercises.
- Present a pre-class assignment to the class, as a professional demonstration of your model application knowledge.
- Complete a closed-book CMMI model knowledge examination with a minimum grade of 80%.
- Attend all class sessions.