How do you do lightweight CMMI?

Question

In my organization, people believe lightweight CMMI is a myth, despite evidence to the contrary. What are your experiences with lightweight CMMI? Have you done it and is it working well for you?

Answer 1

My company is CMMI Level 5; the client I work for is CMMI Level 3.

If lightweight CMMI can be done, I'd love to forward it off to a few people. The amount of meetings and process that happens on a daily basis here is simply staggering.

Answer 2

Agile CMMI blog may give you additional ideas on how lightweight CMMI can be implemented.

From what I've seen formal approach to CMMI requirements gives heavyweight processes, but when you focus on the meaning not on the form less bureaucracy with same demonstrated result is produced.

Answer 3

With TSP

Answer 4

Since CMMI doesn't tell you how to do anything, the only reason CMMI ends up being "heavy" is because people choose to do it in a heavy way.

If I want to gain 10kg, I could do it in a "light" way (e.g., eat healthy calories and lots of protein, lift weights three times a week...) or I could do it in a "heavy" way (e.g., eat fattening and salty foods, watch TV on the couch all day...).

The assumption is that adding 10kg is a good idea in the first place.... but you get the idea, yes?

The key in incorporating CMMI into your work in a lightweight way is to understand the intended outcome of each goal and its practices and to determine how that goal adds value and how you can blend the practices into your work so that they add value to your work.