Implementation Steps

Implementation of any organizational initiative such as CMMI, ISO 9001, ISO 27001, et al would make use of a well-defined Implementation Roadmap from a technical perspective. In addition, the Implementation would also require managing the other aspects associated with an organizational initiative of such a size and complexity like cultural changes, people buy-in, management funding, external consultants, program schedules, etc.

List of recommended steps for CMMI or ISO or any other Program's Implementation are as follows:
1. Evaluate business need for the improvement program
2. Obtain executive management's buy-in and funding
3. Conduct awareness campaign - this will continue till organizational awareness reaches a reasonable level. The campaign may use techniques such as quiz, poster sessions, e-mail communications, inclusion of program updates inmanagement and team meetings.
3. Prepare detailed plan - the plan would detail out program milestones and activities, effort estimates, resource requirements, people and teams, task assignments, schedule, consultant and lead appraiser negotiation, etc.
4. Initiate the Implementation Roadmap - this will continue till the end
5. Revise the detailed plan based on Gap Analysis findings
6. Perform program management - schedule monitoring and corrective act ions, issue management, risk management, people management, Organizational Change Management
7. Manage involvement of external consultants and Lead Appraiser - external visits scheduling and co-ordination, processing of payments, etc.
8. Coordinate training - scheduling and conducting of training identified to be imparted
9. Provide status updates to management and other stakeholders - discussions on the Improvement Program's progress must be included in all management and team status meetings

The above Implementation Steps along with the Implementation Roadmap would ensure successful completion of the Improvement Program. However, one must watch out for Implementation Challenges - risks, issues and challenges that can either delay the program or in the worst case lead to its total failure.