A required model component that describes characteristics that must be present to institutionalize processes that implement a process area. (See also "institutionalization.")
An expected model component that is considered important in achieving the associated generic goal. The generic practices associated with a generic goal describe the activities that are expected to result in achievement of the generic goal and contribute to the institutionalization of the processes associated with a process area.
An informative model component that appears after a generic practice to provide guidance on how the generic practice should be applied to the process area. (This model component is not present in all CMMI models.)
A required CMMI component that can be either a generic goal or a specific goal. The word goal in a CMMI model always refers to a model component (e.g., generic goal and specific goal). (See also "generic goal," "objective," and "specific goal.")