Rapid Performance Improvement (RPI) Alliance Limited

A reference process is a mapping of the detailed information contained in an existing industry standard or model (e.g., CMM-SW, CMMI, ISO-9000 2000) into a pre-defined reference process architecture. That is, a reference process is a translation of a process standard or model into a structure that is more consistent with how people think and do their day-to-day work.

An essential part of the RPI methodology is the use of reference processes to guide in documenting current practices and identifying process gaps.

The benefits of using a reference process include the following.

Reference processes speed mapping of current software practices – Affected individuals can rapidly map existing and desired practices in a workshop setting using the visual process representation format.
The CMMI Reference Process is the foundation for the RPI Methodology's ARC Class C compliant appraisal method
Reference processes enable analysis of current practices to identify gaps (equivalent to what a process assessment or audit would produce) – The gaps are the shortcomings of current mapped practices compared to the relevant Reference Process
Reference processes allow organizations to integrate process changes based on best practices from multiple models and standards – This results in a single process improvement programme with integrated process documentation. This is enabled by a common reference process architecture, which allows different reference processes to be ‘overlaid’ to effectively form a superset of best practices
Reference processes preserves and builds upon existing investment in one standard/model when transitioning to another (e.g., from SW-CMM to CMMI)

Currently, a SW-CMM® reference process covering the key process areas of maturity levels 2 and 3 exists. We are now piloting a draft CMMI® Continuous Representation reference process in various organizations in the United States and Europe.

Other reference processes that will be developed starting in 2004 will be based on the following standards/models:

ISO-9000 2000
US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory requirements
Test Process Improvement model
Several inspection method

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