CAPABILITY MATURITY MODEL INTEGRATION (CMMI)
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| Former Minister IT & T, Minister of State, CEO NetSol, MD PSEB at NetSol CMMI L5 Ceremony |
Repeated studies have confirmed that less than 25% of software development projects ever meet their objectives. Extensive research has shown that these time and cost overruns are largely avoidable, because the processes that produce high quality software on time, and on budget, are well-known.
Designed to minimize the high frequency of failures in outsourced software development projects, Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute has developed the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) to assess a vendor's ability to complete developmental projects within a specified budget and timeframe. The CMM is a collection of best practices grouped into five levels of maturity, specifically developed to help others make measured improvements in their Software Engineering/System Engineering and Project Management capabilities.
Like the ISO 9000 standard, the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is also a model-based software process improvement approach. PSEB recommends that, for the growing number of Pakistani software and service companies that are already ISO 9000-certified - and are now hoping to achieve a higher level of process maturity - should consider qualifying for a CMM certification as well.
This model addresses certain fundamental business decisions not supported by the ISO 9000 or other systems of product quality. The CMM enables companies to better serve their customer's interests by providing answers to the customer's decision problems, such as: Is the supplier able to sustain the reliability of its production? It also effectively answers internally-focused questions, such as: How can we improve the reliability of our production? How can we measure the effectiveness of our Project Management Processes? The primary aim of CMMI is continuous process improvement, from the individual task level to the corporate level.
For further information regarding CMMI, please visit: http://www.sei.cmu.edu
LIST OF CMMI RATED COMPANIES IN PAKISTAN
| SR.NO |
Company Name |
CMMI Level |
| 1 |
NetSol Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd. |
CMMI Level 5 |
| 2 |
NCR Pakistan |
CMMI Level 5 |
| 3 |
Kalsoft (Pvt.) Ltd. |
CMMI Level 3 |
| 4 |
Systems (Pvt.) Ltd. |
CMMI Level 3 |
| 5 |
Digital Processing Systems |
CMMI Level 3 |
| 6 |
ZTE Pakistan, Software R & D Center |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 7 |
Eworx Intl (Pvt.) Ltd. |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 8 |
Techlogix Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 9 |
Si3 - System Innovations (Pvt.) Ltd. |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 10 |
Abacus Consulting (Pvt.) Ltd. |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 11 |
Descon Information Systems |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 12 |
E-Dev Technologies |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 13 |
Prosol Technologies |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 14 |
Avanza Solutions |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 15 |
Shaukat Khanum Cancer Research Hospital (IT DIV) |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 16 |
Geopaq Technologies |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 17 |
Advanced Computing and Engineering Solutions |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 18 |
NADRA |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 19 |
Technosoft Solutions (Pvt) Ltd |
CMMI Level 2 |
| 20 |
Prislogix |
CMMI Level 2 |
PSEB's CMMI INITIATIVE
In May 2004, PSEB launched the first phase of the program, aiming to assist 5 companies in achieving CMMI level 3 or above. After a rigorous selection process, the following IT companies were selected for support:
- NetSol Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd.
- Xavor Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.
- Systems (Pvt.) Ltd.
- KalSoft (Pvt.) Ltd.
- Digital Processing Systems
As a parallel activity, PSEB also selected the following companies to provide CMMI consultancy and appraiser services to the above-mentioned IT companies:
- Moody’s International/Quality Assurance Institute, Middle East, Africa & Pakistan
- NetSol Consulting Services (Pvt.) Ltd.
Under the guidelines of the consultancy/appraiser companies, the selected IT companies have remarkably improved their systems from mid-2004 onwards, and most of them will be achieving higher maturity levels of CMMI soon.
The second phase of the program, aiming to assist 30 companies in achieving CMMI level 2, and aiming to train 10 Pakistanis as SCAMPI appraisers, was launched in late 2004.
The minimum pre-requisite conditions for software companies to qualify for PSEB’s assistance include:
- ISO 9001:2000 certification
- Majority shareholding by Pakistanis
- Minimum human resources strength of 25
PSEB invited IT companies to submit their Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for PSEB’s assistance in achieving CMMI level 2 through the national press during late 2004 and early 2005. The above-mentioned criterion was then used to technically evaluate the applicant companies. As a result, the following companies have been selected for PSEB’s support in the second phase:
| Company |
Telephone |
| Abacus Consulting Technology (Pvt.) Ltd |
042-5884981 |
| Advanced Computing & Engineering Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd |
051-52611080 |
| AMZ Access (Pvt.) Ltd. |
021-111-77-88-66 |
| Avanza Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd |
021-5675240 |
| CARE (Pvt.) Ltd |
051-2874115 / 4794 |
| Descon Information Systems (Pvt.) Ltd |
042-6369331 |
| E-Dev Technology |
021-4314571-2 |
| eWorx International (Pvt.) Ltd |
042-6311442 |
| Geopaq Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd. |
051-2826114 |
| Innovative (Pvt.) Ltd. |
042-111-000-911 |
| Masinfosoft (Pvt.) Ltd |
042-6311881-3 |
| NADRA (Project & Technology Directorates) |
051-90391002 |
| Prosol Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd |
051-2826866 |
| PrisLogix (Pvt.) Ltd |
021-4388185 |
| SKMCH&RC |
042-5180725 |
| System Innovations (Pvt.) Ltd. |
021-111-111-743 |
| Techlogix (Pvt.) Ltd |
042-6362606 |
| yEvolve (Pvt.) Ltd. |
051-5867527 |
In the future, any inclusions to this list will be made through advertisements in the national press. The Terms of Reference (ToRs) are also available at www.pseb.org.pk/adverts from the date of the advertisement’s announcement till its closing date, as mentioned in the advertisement.
The following consultancy companies have been selected to provide technical assistance to the IT companies:
| CMMI Consultants |
| Company |
Telephone |
| Business Beam (Pvt.) Ltd. |
021-4559076 |
| Quality Assurance Institute |
042-5787684 |
| NetSol Consulting Services (Pvt.) Ltd. |
042-111-44-88-00 |
The selected IT companies were asked to choose a consultancy company from PSEB’s approved panel. Trilateral agreements have now been signed between PSEB, the IT companies and their chosen consultancy companies.
IMPLEMENTATION
In this phase, the IT companies will develop, and implement, a system with the help of the consultancy companies, which will be in full compliance with the PAs of CMMI level 2. Two persons from every company will also be trained as appraiser team members. Workshops on “Introduction to CMMI” have already been conducted and widely-attended by the selected companies’ representatives in this regard.
FINAL APPRAISALS
After the system’s implementation, PSEB will use the services of the pool of SCAMPI appraisers, whose training is currently in progress. They will conduct the final appraisals, and submit their reports for the SEI’s approval. The appraised company will then be awarded the desired level of CMMI.
TRAINING OF SCAMPI APPRAISERS
PSEB has selected a panel of ten individuals from consulting companies and the academia for their training as SCAMPI Appraisers by advertising in the national press. So far, the selected candidates have successfully completed the first phase of their training i.e. "Workshop on Introduction to CMMI". In the next phase, they will attend a "Workshop on Intermediate Concepts of CMMI". Candidates passing through the second phase successfully will subsequently attend the "SCAMPI Appraiser Training" after sitting in two SCAMPI Appraisers as ATMs.
For any queries, please contact:
Mr. Kashif Amin
Head of Projects
Pakistan Software Export Board (G) Limited
2nd Floor Evacuee Trust Complex
F-5, Aga Khan Road
Islamabad - 44000
Telephone: 92-51-9204074, Extension 106
Fax: 92-51-9204075
E-mail: kamin@pseb.org.pk |
