Support process areas cover the activities that support acquisition and address processes that are used in the context of performing other processes. The support process areas address acquisition project processes and may address processes that apply more generally to the organization. For example, Process and Product Quality Assurance practices can be used to provide an objective evaluation of the processes and work products described in all the process areas.

Although all support process areas rely on other process areas for input, some support process areas provide support functions that also help implement several generic practices.

The support process areas of CMMI-ACQ are as follows:

·         Measurement and Analysis (MA)

·         Process and Product Quality Assurance (PPQA)

·         Configuration Management (CM)

·         Decision Analysis and Resolution (DAR)

The Measurement and Analysis process area is related to other process areas because its practices guide projects and organizations in aligning measurement needs and objectives with a measurement approach that provides objective results. These results can be used in making informed decisions and taking appropriate corrective actions.

An acquirer uses Measurement and Analysis practices to support the information needs of the organization and project. Some of this information may be needed from the acquirer, some from the supplier, and some from all parts of a project. Supplier Solicitation and Agreement Development describes how these measures are specified in the solicitation process and supplier agreement. The measurement results from the acquirer and supplier support project, supplier, and technical reviews through project monitoring and control, agreement management, and acquisition technical management.

The Process and Product Quality Assurance process area is related to all process areas because it describes specific practices for objectively evaluating performed processes and work products against applicable process descriptions, standards, and procedures, and by ensuring that issues arising from these evaluations are addressed. Process and Product Quality Assurance practices support the acquisition of high-quality products and services by providing the acquirer with appropriate visibility into, and feedback on, the processes and associated work products throughout the life of the project.

The Configuration Management process area is related to all process areas because its practices describe establishing and maintaining the integrity of work products using configuration identification, configuration control, configuration status accounting, and configuration audits. The work products placed under configuration control include the products that are delivered to the customer, designated internal work products, acquired products, tools, and other items that are used in creating and describing these work products.

Examples of work products that may be placed under configuration control include plans, process descriptions, and requirements. Suppliers may play a part in any of these activities on behalf of the acquirer, so the supplier agreement should specify the configuration management roles and responsibilities of the acquirer and supplier. Configuration management of acquired products (both final and interim products) created by the suppliers requires monitoring to ensure that project requirements are met.

The Decision Analysis and Resolution process area is related to all process areas because its practices describe determining which issues should be subjected to a formal evaluation process and applying a formal evaluation process to them. A repeatable Decision Analysis and Resolution process is important for an acquirer when making the critical decisions that define and guide the acquisition process and later when critical decisions are made with the selected supplier.