Prerequisites for Intermediate Concepts of CMMI for Development Course

Before taking this course, participants must

• Complete a formal SEI-authorized offering of the Introduction to CMMI for Development v1.3 course.
• Successfully complete the CMMI Version 1.3 Model Upgrade (if the Introduction to CMMI course that  you attended was based on CMMI Version 1.2)
• Successfully complete the CMMI Version 1.2 Upgrade Training and CMMI Version 1.3 Model Upgrade (if the Introduction to CMMI course that you attended was based on CMMI Version 1.1)
• Complete a minimum of ninety days of self study following the completion of the Introduction to CMMI course
• 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, serving as a member of an appraisal team, etc.)
• Carefully study the full content of the CMMI-DEV, Version 1.3 model.
• Fully understand both the continuous and staged concepts.
• Complete and submit an assigned exercise before attending the course, according to instructions that will be supplied. This exercise will require 4-6 hours for most students.
  

You MUST 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 and discuss technical concepts in English.

Course Format

The Intermediate Concepts of CMMI for Development course is a required training component for the SCAMPI Lead Appraiser and Introduction to CMMI for Development v1.3 Instructor certifications. These professional SEI certifications require an in-depth understanding of CMMI-DEV model. The Intermediate Concepts of CMMI for Development course consequently is much more demanding than most adult learning experiences. Each participant is required to demonstrate adequate model knowledge and ability to explain CMMI-DEV-related concepts by preparing, submitting, and delivering a presentation on an assigned process area, and by passing an end-of-course examination. The course is a balance of student presentation, instructor-led presentations and discussion, and exercises that depend on active student participation in all aspects.

Completion Requirements

Participants are evaluated by the course instructors in two areas:

1. Class participation: Students attend the entire course and contribute appropriately to class discussions.
2. Ability to explain CMMI concepts: This ability is principally determined from the students' presentation on their assigned process area, and secondarily through class participation.
   

This course is designed for students to gain knowledge through both participating in the class activities and by researching, preparing, and presenting information on their assigned process area. That knowledge will be important to the student's ability to pass the closed book examination on the last day of class.

If the student proceeds 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.

This course has two options for completion:

1.  If the student does not wish to continue with Instructor or Lead Appraiser training, then only the first four days of training is required.
2. However to pursue Instructor or Lead Appraiser training, the student must demonstrate his or her knowledge of the CMMI-DEV model by taking and passing a closed book examination. Remedial work is not offered for those who do not pass the exam.

There are two ways to take the exam. (1) The exam may be taken on the morning of the fifth day of the class, or (2) the student may choose to take the exam within 4 weeks of the last day of class at a testing center.

If the student does not receive course completion credit and pass the exam and later desires to take additional SEI training that has this course as a prerequisite, the student will be required to re-take this course and pass the written examination.

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 Introduction to CMMI for Development v1.3 course and the start of the Intermediate Concepts of CMMI for Development course. During this period the student is expected to have completed all the prerequisites identified above.

It is important that students conduct an in-depth study of Chapters 1-5 and Generic Goals and Practices, of the CMMI-DEV Version 1.3 prior to the start of the course. These chapters cover essentials of model structure, terminology, and generic goal and generic practice content. In addition, these chapters provide essential information regarding maturity levels (staged representation) and capability levels (continuous representation). A thorough study of the process area descriptions is also essential.

By the end of the course, participants should be able to do the following, based upon the course experience and their individual study of the CMMI-DEV models:

• 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.

Students who have not prepared adequately prior to attending the Intermediate Concepts of CMMI for Development course often have to invest long hours of evening study during the course to achieve adequate model knowledge. Such study is very difficult to do after full days of instruction.

Expectations for Successful Completion of the Intermediate Concepts of CMMI for Development Course

To successfully complete the course, the student must do the following:

• Understand the CMMI-DEV 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.
• Pass a closed-book CMMI-DEV model knowledge examination.
• Attend all class sessions.
  

How Instructors will Rate Students:

Successful completion of the Intermediate Concepts of CMMI for Development course requires that the student demonstrate an acceptable working knowledge of CMMI-DEV during their presentations and class participation.

Students will be rated according to the scale indicated below.

Rating Scale Key

E=Excellent    Student almost always exhibits expected knowledge and adequate performance in the activity; performs activity in a way that is frequently above and beyond expectations.

G=Good    Student often exhibits expected knowledge and adequate performance in the activity; falling short of expectations infrequently. This rating is the usual rating given to those generally meeting our knowledge and performance expectations.

F=Fair    Student sometimes exhibits expected knowledge and adequate performance, but fails to do so frequently, in the activity.

P=Poor    Student very frequently fails to exhibit expected knowledge and adequate performance in the activity.

We expect that most course students will be given Good (G) ratings for most activities.

Students that are still new to the CMMI-DEV model may demonstrate a few weaknesses in their knowledge and in their performance of the described activities. Thus, there will normally be only a few Excellent (E) ratings for students per activity.

Notification of ratings: students will normally be notified of their ratings by email following the course to leave the instructors adequate time to score each student’s composite rating.

Students who receive a passing score on the written examination will be sent a certificate of completion via surface mail.

Students who do not pass the written examination may retake the exam at a testing center within 4 weeks of the last day of class. If a student does not pass the retake exam, they must retake the class at their own expense.

You can get further information on the Intermediate Concepts of CMMI for Development end of course examination at www.sei.cmu.edu/training/examp94.cfm