Introduction

One of the main challenges of today’s organizations is the continuous improvement of their competitiveness. CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration), SPICE (Software Process Improvement Capability Determination) or Automotive SPICE® and ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) are systematic approaches to support this goal. These models are based on proven practices and help organizations to improve their performance in a lasting and measurable way. CMMI, SPICE Automotive SPICE® and ITIL are independent of specific suppliers' methods and tools.

Audience

CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL are relevant to any company seeking to improve the performance of their product development or their IT organization. CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL are intended for all employees:

• for the management, they are guiding tools to improve the organization,
• they offer practical advice and checklists for the practitioners,
• and for the quality insurance, they are an objective basis for verification.

CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL offer two levels of support

The performance improvement of a product development organization or an IT organization is always on the agenda. The difficulty lies in challenging the established modes of work and then in rigorously establishing best practices. CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL offer two levels of support to overcome these difficulties: firstly they propose a systematically organized collection of proven professional practices for efficient development organizations, secondly they describe all the activities required to establish these practices throughout the organization.

CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL are tools for process improvements

CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL are tools to obtain lasting improvements: the organization's strengths and weaknesses are analyzed objectively, improvements are defined and subsequently applied in the appropriate sequence. Therefore these models benefit both the improvement team as well as serving management as an instrument to change the whole development organization.

• Leadership instrument for management
• Requirements for the improvement team
• Checklists for project staff and teams
• Basics for supplier management

CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL are process models. Unlike concrete process descriptions, they define requirements to an efficient product development, but do not formulate concrete execution steps. To translate these requirements into concrete steps remains the task of each organization. Because CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL do not define concrete development processes, they can be customized to fit diverse organization types and sizes.

CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL practices: part of every day’s practices

A fundamental aspect of CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL is that the processes will be not only documented but, more importantly, established and applied in everyday operations. For this reason, these models also describe how to introduce, establish and continuously improve new operation methods.

External and internal effects of assessments

CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL are objective and proven standards against which an organization can be assessed. Achieving a certified maturity level can be a beneficial communication outside of the organisation, but the main effect of such an assessment is for the organization itself and this should not be underestimated. Assessments are an effective means of gaining the commitment and involvement of the whole organization to the common improvement goals.

Particular strength of CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL

The particular strength of CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL is their special focus on field of application, which they address more deeply and precisely than would be the case, for example, with ISO 9000.
A further distinctive characteristic of these models is the grouping of all process areas essential to the success of a product development or IT organization. Thus CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL address the project management, the development, the organizational support processes, the process improvement and the management tasks in a single, common model.

CMMI, SPICE, Automotive SPICE® and ITIL: where are the differences?

CMMI and SPICE (or Automotive SPICE®) are similar models and they support the same goal of improving a development organisation. All three models have the same objectives and similar contents. What are the differences?

• CMMI addresses software, systems and hardware development in a single model whereas SPICE is dedicated to software development only. A SPICE for systems development is currently in progress
• CMMI defines a Maturity for a whole organization derived from individual Capabilities. SPICE does not yet include such a concept, but this is in preparation
• CMMI provides more detailed descriptions and advice for practices; SPICE contains more engineering practices
• CMMI stems from the USA, SPICE from Europe; SPICE is also widespread in Asia
• Automotive SPICE is more detailed SPICE for the automotive, systems, and manufacturing industries
• ITIL's main focus is on IT operations. CITIL = CMMI+ITIL is an integration of the proven ITIL practices in the CMMI structure

We can support you in the selection of the process improvement model most appropriate for your needs.