Generic practices are called “generic” because the same practice applies to multiple process areas. A generic practice is the description of an activity that is considered important in achieving the associated generic goal. A generic practice is an expected model component.

For example, a generic practice for the generic goal “The process is institutionalized as a managed process” is “Provide adequate resources for performing the process, developing the work products, and providing the services of the process.”

Only the statement of the generic practice is an expected model component. The title of a generic practice (preceded by the practice number) and any notes associated with the practice are considered informative model components.

To reduce the repetitiveness of this information and to conserve the number of pages required to present this information, only the generic practice title, statement, and elaborations appear in the process areas. (See the Generic Goals and Generic Practices section on page 75 for a complete description of the generic practices.)