The criteria that a deliverable must satisfy to be accepted by a user, customer, or other authorized entity. (See also "deliverable.")

Formal testing conducted to enable a user, customer, or other authorized entity to determine whether to accept a deliverable. (See also "unit testing.")

In the continuous representation, a list of process areas and their corresponding capability levels that represent the organization's progress for each process area while advancing through the capability levels. (See also "capability level profile," "target profile," and "target staging.")

Acquisition constellation

The stakeholder that acquires or procures a product or service from a supplier. (See also "stakeholder.")

The process of obtaining products or services through supplier agreements. (See also "supplier agreement.")

The specific approach to acquiring products and services that is based on considerations of supply sources, acquisition methods, requirements specification types, contract or agreement types, and related acquisition risks.

Interpret goals and practices in light of the organization's business objectives. When using any CMMI model, practices should be interpreted in a way that works for the organization. This term is used in goals and practices in which certain activities may not be equally relevant in all situations. (See also "appropriate" and "as needed.")

Requirement that levies all or part of the performance and functionality of a higher level requirement on a lower level architectural element or design component.

A practice that is a substitute for one or more generic or specific practices contained in CMMI models that achieves an equivalent effect toward satisfying the generic or specific goal associated with it. Alternative practices are not necessarily one-for-one replacements for generic or specific practices.

Agreement Management (process area)

Amplifications are informative model components that contain information relevant to a particular discipline. For example, to find amplifications for software engineering, look in the model for items labeled "For Software Engineering." The same is true for amplifications for other disciplines.

In the CMMI Product Suite, an examination of one or more processes by a trained team of professionals using an appraisal reference model as the basis for determining, at a minimum, strengths and weaknesses. (See also "assessment.")

The results of an appraisal that identify the most important issues, problems, or opportunities for process improvement within the appraisal scope. Appraisal findings are inferences drawn from corroborated objective evidence.

Members of the organizational unit who participate in providing information during an appraisal.

As used in CMMI appraisal materials, the value assigned by an appraisal team to (a) a CMMI goal or process area, (b) the capability level of a process area, or (c) the maturity level of an organizational unit. A rating is determined by enacting the defined rating process for the appraisal method being employed.

As used in CMMI appraisal materials, the CMMI model to which an appraisal team correlates implemented process activities.

The definition of the boundaries of an appraisal encompassing the organizational limits and CMMI model limits within which the processes to be investigated operate.

A person who leads the activities of an appraisal and has satisfied qualification criteria for experience, knowledge, and skills defined by the appraisal method.

Interpret goals and practices in light of the organization's business objectives. When using any CMMI model, practices should be interpreted in a way that works for the organization. This term is used in goals and practices in which certain activities may not be equally relevant in all situations. (See also "adequate" and "as needed.")

Appraisal Requirements for CMMI

Acquisition Requirements Development (process area)

Interpret goals and practices in light of the organization's business objectives. When using any CMMI model, practices should be interpreted in a way that works for the organization. This term is used in goals and practices in which certain activities may not be equally relevant in all situations. (See also "adequate" and "appropriate.")

In the CMMI Product Suite, an appraisal that an organization does internally for the purposes of process improvement. The word assessment is also used in the CMMI Product Suite in an everyday English sense (e.g., risk assessment). (See also "appraisal.")

In CMMI, the term "special cause of process variation" is used in place of "assignable cause of process variation" to ensure consistency. The two terms are defined identically. (See "special cause of process variation.")

Acquisition Technical Management (process area)

In CMMI process improvement work, an objective examination of a work product or set of work products against specific criteria (e.g., requirements).

Acquisition Validation (process area)

Acquisition Verification (process area)