Mapping Agile in ML4 and ML5

[harinee]

I came across the following:

"Some process areas of level 3 and most of level 4 and 5 are
unattainable without sacrificing some agile bedrocks.
This would weaken the agile method and eliminate several of its
benefits. Also, such actions would be contradictory to the aim of
CMMI, i.e. improving the process by making the agile method as good as
possible and not turning it into a different kind of method
which isn’t agile anymore. So we conclude that the best improvement
approach in an agile environment is to stop at CMMI level 3."

Do you agree? Please comment.

[Donald Buresh]

To Whom It May Concern,

I suggest that you read my book entitled: Customer Satisfaction and Agile
Methods. In the text, it was shown that the data did not substantiate that
agile methods provided any greater customer satisfaction that plan-driven
methods. What did matter was the quality of the product, how effective the
team worked together, and the effectiveness of the project management. In
fact the coefficients of the first two variables were positive whereas the
coefficient of the project management effectiveness variable was negative,
indicating that it is inappropriate to get hung up on the methodology used.
You can find the text on Amazon.com, just put my name in as the author. I
hope that this helps.

Donald L. Buresh, Ph.D.
3115 Enoch Avenue
Zion, IL 60099
Tele: 847-872-1659

[George Dinwiddie]

I'd like to hear more reasoning on these conclusions. Where did you
find this quote?

CMMI level 4 is about using metrics to manage the process. Level 5 is
about continuously improving, and using the metrics to be sure you're
doing that. I'll grant you that finding metrics that are really
appropriate, rather than merely analogs for the things you want, is very
difficult. I can't see how that makes CMMI 4 & 5 contradictory to
Agile, however.

- George

--
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* George Dinwiddie * http://blog.gdinwiddie.com
Software Development http://www.idiacomputing.com
Consultant and Coach http://www.agilemaryland.org
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[George Dinwiddie]

Donald Buresh wrote:
> To Whom It May Concern,
>

> I suggest that you read my book...

Hi, Donald. It seems that the only things I've seen you post on any of
the mailing lists have been first, questions to give you material for
your book, and now, plugs for your book. This gives me the impression
that you have no credibility at all.

Is this the impression that you're trying to produce?

[Donald Buresh]

Dear George,

The question that was posed is whether agile-driven companies should stop at
Level 3. The answer is that it does not matter. The book provides the data
and answers the question in terms of customer satisfaction. My point is that
decisions should be made on the basis of facts and data, not because someone
says so. The book provides the data and the analysis needed to come to the
decision without guessing. You are free to read the book or not, but if you
choose not to look at the analysis, then please remember that the decision
is based not on data, but on your judgment alone.

I am trying to get the word out that the methodology does not matter when it
comes to customer satisfaction. How do you suppose that I should do this? I
know of no other way than to cite the text, and recommend that a person look
at the data. If you have a better way, please let me know. I am responding
only to emails sent to me. I am not initiating the transmission of this
information. I await your reply.

Donald L. Buresh, Ph.D.
3115 Enoch Avenue
Zion, IL 60099
Tele: 847-872-1659

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