Measurement and Analysis (MA) (CMMI-ACQ)

The Measurement and Analysis process area involves the following activities:

• Specifying objectives of measurement and analysis so that they are aligned with identified information needs and project, organizational, or business objectives
• Specifying measures, analysis techniques, and mechanisms for data collection, data storage, reporting, and feedback
• Implementing the analysis techniques and mechanisms for data collection, data reporting, and feedback
• Providing objective results that can be used in making informed decisions and taking appropriate corrective action

The integration of measurement and analysis activities into the processes of the project supports the following:

• Objective planning and estimating
• Tracking actual progress and performance against established plans and objectives
• Identifying and resolving process related issues
• Providing a basis for incorporating measurement into additional processes in the future

The staff required to implement a measurement capability may or may not be employed in a separate organization-wide program. Measurement capability may be integrated into individual projects or other organizational functions (e.g., quality assurance).

The initial focus for measurement activities is at the project level. However, a measurement capability can prove useful for addressing organization- and enterprise-wide information needs. To support this capability, measurement activities should support information needs at multiple levels, including the business, organizational unit, and project to minimize re-work as the organization matures.

Projects can store project specific data and results in a project specific repository, but when data are to be used widely or are to be analyzed in support of determining data trends or benchmarks, data may reside in the organization’s measurement repository.

Measurement and analysis of product components provided by suppliers is essential for effective management of the quality and costs of the project. It is possible, with careful management of supplier agreements, to provide insight into data that support supplier performance analysis.

The acquirer specifies measures that enable it to gauge its own progress and output, supplier progress and output as per contractual requirements, and the status of the evolving products acquired. An acquirer establishes measurement objectives for its activities and work products and supplier activities and deliverables. Measurement objectives are derived from information needs that come from project, organizational, or business objectives. In this process area, when the term “objectives” is used without the “measurement” qualifier, it indicates either project, organizational, or business objectives.

Measurement objectives are used to define measures as well as collection, analysis, storage, and usage procedures for measures. These measures are specified in the project plan. Measures for the supplier, data collection processes and timing, expected analysis, and required storage should be specified in the supplier agreement.

In projects where multiple products are acquired to deliver a capability to the end user or where there are relationships with other projects to acquire joint capabilities, additional measures can be identified to track and achieve interoperability for programmatic, technical, and operational interfaces.