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The previously described Established process now operates predictively within defined limits to achieve its process outcomes. Quantitative management needs are identified, measurement data are collected and analysed to identify assignable causes of variation. Corrective action is taken to address assignable causes of variation.
The following process attributes, together with the previously defined process attributes, demonstrate the achievement of this level:
5.5.1. PA 4.1 Quantitative analysis process attribute
The quantitative analysis process attribute is a measure of the extent to which information needs are defined, relationships between process elements are identified and data are collected. As a result of full achievement of this process attribute:
a) The process is aligned with quantitative business goals;
b) Process information needs in support of relevant defined quantitative business goals are established;
c) Process measurement objectives are derived from process information needs;
d) Measurable relationships between process elements that contribute to the process performance are identified;
e) Quantitative objectives for process performance in support of relevant business goals are established;
f) Appropriate measures and frequency of measurement are identified and defined in line with process measurement objectives and quantitative objectives for process performance;
g) Results of measurement are collected, validated and reported in order to monitor the extent to which the quantitative objectives for process performance are met.
NOTE 1: Information needs typically reflect management, technical, project, process or product needs.
Generic practices | GP 4.1.1 Identify business goals. [ACHIEVEMENT a] Business goals are identified that are supported by the quantitatively measured process. GP 4.1.2 Establish process information needs. [ACHIEVEMENT a, b] Stakeholders of the identified business goals and the quantitatively measured process, and their information needs are identified, defined and agreed. GP 4.1.3 Derive process measurement objectives from process information needs. [ACHIEVEMENT a, c] The process measurement objectives to satisfy the established process information needs are derived. GP 4.1.4 Identify measurable relationships between process elements. [ACHIEVEMENT a, d] Identify the relationships between process elements, which contribute to the derived measurement objectives. GP 4.1.5 Establish quantitative objectives. [ACHIEVEMENT a, e] Establish quantitative objectives for the identified measurable process elements and their relationships. Agreement with process stakeholders is established. GP 4.1.6 Identify process measures that support the achievement of the quantitative objectives. [ACHIEVEMENT a, f] Detailed measures are defined to support monitoring, analysis and verification needs of the quantitative objectives. Frequency of data collection is defined. |
Algorithms and methods to create derived measurement results from base measures are defined, as appropriate. Verification mechanism for base and derived measures is defined. NOTE 1: Typically, the standard process definition is extended to include the collection of data for process measurement. GP 4.1.7 Collect product and process measurement results through performing the defined process. [ACHIEVEMENT a, g] Data collection mechanism is created for all identified measures. Required data is collected within the defined frequency, and recorded. Measurement results are analyzed, and reported to the identified stakeholders. NOTE 2: A product measure can contribute to a process measure, e.g. the productivity of testing characterized by the number of defects found in a given timeframe in relation to the product defect rate in the field. | |
Generic resources | Management information (cost, time, reliability, profitability, customer benefits, risks etc.) [ACHIEVEMENT a, b, c, d, e, f] Applicable measurement techniques [ACHIEVEMENT a, d] Product and Process measurement tools and results databases [ACHIEVEMENT a, d, e, f, g] Process measurement framework [ACHIEVEMENT a, d, e, f, g] Tools for data analysis and measurement [ACHIEVEMENT a, b, c, d, e, f] |
5.5.2. PA 4.2 Quantitative control process attribute
The quantitative control process attribute is a measure of the extent to which objective data are used to manage process performance that is predictable. As a result of full achievement of this process attribute:
a) Techniques for analyzing the collected data are selected;
b) Assignable causes of process variation are determined through analysis of the collected data;
c) Distributions that characterize the performance of the process are established;
d) Corrective actions are taken to address assignable causes of variation;
e) Separate distributions are established (as necessary) for analyzing the process under the influence of assignable causes of variation.
Generic practices | GP 4.2.1 Select analysis techniques. [ACHIEVEMENT a] Analysis methods and techniques for control of the process measurements are defined. GP 4.2.2 Establish distributions that characterize the process performance. [ACHIEVEMENT c] Expected distributions and corresponding control limits for measurement results are defined. |
GP 4.2.3 Determine assignable causes of process variation. [ACHIEVEMENT b] Each deviation from the defined control limits is identified and recorded. Determine assignable causes of these deviations by analyzing collected data using the defined analysis techniques. All deviations and assigned causes are recorded. GP 4.2.4 Identify and implement corrective actions to address assignable causes. [ACHIEVEMENT d] Corrective actions are determined, recorded, and implemented to address assignable causes of variation. Corrective action results are monitored and evaluated to determine their effectiveness. GP 4.2.5 Establish separate distributions for analyzing the process [ACHIEVEMENT e] Separate distributions are used to quantitatively understand the variation of process performance under the influence of assignable causes. | |
Generic resources | Process control and analysis techniques [ACHIEVEMENT a, c] Statistical analysis tools/applications [ACHIEVEMENT a, b, c, e] Process control tools/applications [ACHIEVEMENT d, e] |