Stabilize the performance of one or more subprocesses to determine the ability of the process to achieve the established quantitative quality and process-performance objectives.

The purpose of this generic practice is to stabilize the performance of one or more subprocesses of the defined process, which are critical contributors to overall performance, using appropriate statistical and other quantitative techniques. Stabilizing selected subprocesses supports predicting the ability of the process to achieve the established quantitative quality and process-performance objectives.

Refer to the Quantitative Project Management process area for information on selecting subprocesses for statistical management, monitoring performance of subprocesses, and other aspects of stabilizing subprocess performance.

A stable subprocess shows no significant indication of special causes of process variation. Stable subprocesses are predictable within the limits established by the natural bounds of the subprocess. Variations in the stable subprocess are due to a constant system of chance causes, and the magnitude of the variations can be small or large.

Predicting the ability of the process to achieve the established quantitative objectives requires a quantitative understanding of the contributions of the subprocesses that are critical to achieving these objectives and establishing and managing against interim quantitative objectives over time.

Selected process and product measures are incorporated into the organization’s measurement repository to support process-performance analysis and future fact-based decision making.

Subpractices

1.    Statistically manage the performance of one or more subprocesses that are critical contributors to the overall performance of the process.

2.    Predict the ability of the process to achieve its established quantitative objectives considering the performance of the statistically managed subprocesses.

3.    Incorporate selected process-performance measurements into the organization’s process-performance baselines.