Summary

Establish and maintain a product integration strategy.

Description

The product integration strategy describes the approach for receiving, assembling, and evaluating the product components that comprise the product.

A product integration strategy addresses items such as the following:

  • Making product components available for integration (e.g., in what sequence)
  • Assembling and evaluating as a single build or as a progression of incremental builds
  • Including and testing features in each iteration when using iterative development
  • Managing interfaces
  • Using models, prototypes, and simulations to assist in evaluating an assembly, including its interfaces
  • Establishing the product integration environment
  • Defining procedures and criteria
  • Making available the appropriate test tools and equipment
  • Managing product hierarchy, architecture, and complexity
  • Recording results of evaluations
  • Handling exceptions


The integration strategy should also be aligned with the technical approach described in the Project Planning process area and harmonized with the selection of solutions and the design of product and product components in the Technical Solution process area.

Refer to the Technical Solution (TS) (CMMI-DEV) process area for more information about selecting product component solutions and implementing the design.


Refer to the Decision Analysis and Resolution (DAR) (CMMI-DEV) process area for more information about analyzing possible decisions using a formal evaluation process that evaluates identified alternatives against established criteria.


Refer to the Project Planning (PP) (CMMI-DEV) process area for more information about establishing and maintaining plans that define project activities.


Refer to the Risk Management (RSKM) (CMMI-DEV) process area for more information about identifying risks and mitigating risks.


Refer to the Supplier Agreement Management (SAM) (CMMI-DEV) process area for more information about managing the acquisition of products and services from suppliers.


The results of developing a product integration strategy are typically documented in a product integration plan, which is reviewed with stakeholders to promote commitment and understanding. Some of the items addressed in a product integration strategy are covered in more detail in the other specific practices and generic practices of this process area (e.g., environment, procedures and criteria, training, roles and responsibilities, involvement of relevant stakeholders).

Example Work Products



  1. Product integration strategy
  2. Rationale for selecting or rejecting alternative product integration strategies


Subpractices



1. Identify the product components to be integrated.

2. Identify the verifications to be performed during the integration of the product components.

This identification includes verifications to be performed on interfaces.



3. Identify alternative product component integration strategies.

Developing an integration strategy can involve specifying and evaluating several alternative integration strategies or sequences.



4. Select the best integration strategy.

The availability of the following will need to be aligned or harmonized with the integration strategy: product components; the integration environment; test tools and equipment; procedures and criteria; relevant stakeholders; and staff who possess the appropriate skills.



5. Periodically review the product integration strategy and revise as needed.

Assess the product integration strategy to ensure that variations in production and delivery schedules have not had an adverse impact on the integration sequence or compromised the factors on which earlier decisions were made.



6. Record the rationale for decisions made and deferred.