Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense© 2006 by Carnegie Mellon University
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Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
SEI Professional Certifications
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What is Certification?
Certification is the acknowledgement that an individual has attained a well-defined level of understanding and ability in a particular body of knowledge or skill set.
Certification specifically:• characterizes standard practices of the profession • assures competencies of its practitioners• employs demonstration of specific knowledge or
skills • establishes a vehicle for maturation of the
profession
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Why Become Certified ?
SEI-certified professionals realize an increase in• knowledge and skills• prestige in an organization• marketability throughout the industry• professional recognition from a global leader• use of best practices in the profession
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SEI Certifications
Current certifications• CERT Computer Security Incident Handler • PSP Developer • SEMA Implementing Goal Driven
Measurement Instructor
Future areas for certification:• TSP Coach and PSP Instructor• SCAMPI High Maturity Lead Appraisers• SAPP Instructor
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Background on SCAMPI High Maturity Lead Appraiser Certification Project
• CMMI SG direction provided in April/May 2006
• Planning meetings held in May 2006 with program leaders.
• Core Team developmental meetings began in June of 2006
• High Maturity focus group workshop July 2006
• LA Survey September 2006• Infrastructure development July-
September 2006• Initial roll-out October 2006
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Events Focused on High Maturity Issues
SEI High Maturity Workshops (1999, 2001)
SEI TR Competency Lifecycle Framework (2005)
CMMI Steering Group Direction (2005/2006)
SEI High Maturity Certification Focus Group Workshop (2006)
SCAMPI Lead Appraiser Survey (2006)
Certification announcement, process and application release of Initial phase of SCAMPI HM LA certification program
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SCAMPI LA Survey
LA Survey of 36 questions issued to 428 LA’s
279 responses were received (65% response rate)
Areas included:
1. General2. Training and Education3. Credentials4. Experience5. Competency Clusters6. Plans for HM Appraisals
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SCAMPI LA Survey Results - 1
General• 75% of respondents strongly agree or agree that some
Lead Appraiser’s interpretations of the model are sometimes incorrect for a given situation.
• 45% of respondents strongly agree or agree that the SCAMPI appraisal method is not always rigorously implemented.
• 36% of respondents strongly agree or agree that some Lead Appraisers are engaging in unethical business practices. However 50% of respondents neither agree nor disagree or gave a No Opinion response.
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SCAMPI LA Survey Results - 2
General• 54% of respondents strongly agree or agree that some CL or
ML 4 or 5 appraisal results are not justified.
• 72% of respondents strongly agree or agree that some Lead Appraisers do not fully understand High Maturity CMMI concepts and issues.
• 55% of respondents strongly agree or agree that there is a need for certification of High Maturity Lead Appraisers
• 67% of the respondents strongly agree or agree that the SEI should develop a required courses specific to High Maturity Lead Appraiser topics.
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SCAMPI LA Survey Results - 3
Training and Education – 127 comments received
Survey respondents agreed that certified individuals should have a background in CMMI, statistics, process improvement, quantitative project management, etc.
Individuals should have advanced degrees with courses such as applied quantitative methods, statistical process control, business ethics, psychology, time management, team management, etc.
Degrees in relevant fields such as engineering, science, business, or math.
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SCAMPI LA Survey Results - 4
Experience• 62% of respondents strongly agree or agree that an
individual should have led a High Maturity appraisal to qualify as a certified HM LA.
• 77% of respondents strongly agree or agree that an individual should have served as a mini-team member for High Maturity PAs in an appraisal to qualify as a certified HM LA.
• 41% of respondents replied that it was Not Important at All to have taught an Intro to CMMI course that included attendees from an organization that is ML4/5.
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SCAMPI LA Survey Results - 5
Experience • 62% of the respondents replied that having taught High
Maturity processes or concepts was Most Important or Somewhat Important.
• 39% of respondents replied that having authored presentations, articles, publications, and books on High Maturity topics was Most Important or Somewhat Important.
• 67% of respondents replied that having authored and/or implemented High Maturity processes was Most Important or Somewhat Important.
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SCAMPI LA Survey Results - 6
Competency ClustersRespondents identified that these were Most Important or Somewhat Important in all cases:
• Model Interpretation –93%• Professionalism – 88%• Understanding and Adapting to Organizational Contexts – 86%• Interpersonal Communication and Facilitation – 82%• Integration Articulation and Expression of Information – 80%• Product or Service Tailoring Adaptation and Application – 77%• Project Planning and Management – 77%• Decision Making and Problem Solving – 73%• Achieving and Managing Agreements – 68%
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SCAMPI LA Survey Results - 7
Are you planning to lead a v1.1 ML 4/5 appraisal in 2007?Yes – 41%No – 58%
Are you planning to lead a v1.2 ML 4/5 appraisal between now and March 2007?Yes – 19%No – 80%
Are you planning to lead a v1.2 ML 4/5 appraisal between March and October 2007?Yes – 47% (131 Respondents)No – 52% (143 Respondents)
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SCAMPI LA Survey Results - 8
Do you plan to become a certified SCAMPI High Maturity Lead Appraiser between now and October 2007?Yes – 84% (232 respondents)No – 15%
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HM LA Certification Process- Initial Phase-1
Application Submission and Review
• Each interested individual submits an application for review before proceeding to an Oral exam.
• Applications are reviewed based on the following criteria: - Training received on high maturity topics, e.g., statistical
process control and probability and statistics- High maturity appraisal experience- Developed / Implemented high maturity processes- Built / Taught courses on high maturity topics
• Application review prioritized based on applicants planned first CMMI V1.2 HM appraisal
• Applicants who initially do not advance to the Oral exam, are provided the opportunity to supply additional information.
• Applications will be accepted through April 2007 • Application will be accepted again starting in August 2007
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HM LA Certification Process- Initial Phase-2
SCAMPI HM LA Oral Exam - • An assessment of knowledge through questions and answers
between a candidate and examiners
• Candidates will be asked prepared questions and scenarios with “listen for” answers. Follow-up questions may be asked for clarity
• Quality assurance personnel will be on-hand to provide administrative oversight, logistical support, and audit candidate sessions to ensure program standardization
• Oral exams for 2006/2007 will conclude on June 30, 2007
• Candidates will be notified of their exam results within two weeks of the exam
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HM LA Certification Process- Initial Phase-3
Scheduled SCAMPI HM LA Oral Exams
• Frankfurt, Germany: October 24-25, 2006
• Denver, CO: November 14-16, 2006
• India: January, 2007 (exact date and location yet to be determined)
• Austin, TX: March 26-29, 2007 at SEPG 2007
• Amsterdam, The Netherlands: June 11-14, 2007 at European SEPG
• Additional dates and locations are under consideration
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HM LA Certification Renewal Criteria- Initial Phase
Initial HM LA certifications will be valid through January, 31 2008.
After successful completion of the SCAMPI LA exam and possible oral exam, certification is then valid for two to three years from the date of your exam.
Maintenance and on-going professional requirements will need to be completed during the period of validity in order to renew your certification.
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Next Steps and Plans- Phase 2
Conduct a Workshop to aid in the development of the SCAMPI LA Body of Knowledge (Feb 2007)
Develop and Publish a SCAMPI LA Body of Knowledge Guide
Develop and Implement a SCAMPI LA exam for all LA’s (tentatively October 2007)
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For more information contact:
Jefferson WelchSEI Certification Program Team [email protected]