What is SEI? CMM? ISO? IEEE? ANSI? Will it Help?

In this tutorial, we will discuss the full form and meaning of the following terms like SEI, CMM, ISO, IEEE, and ANSI with a detailed explanation. We will get to know how these certifications will be helpful in the software industry.

In this tutorial, we will explore the five different certifications along with their complete details.

Let’s move on!!

What is SEI, CMM, ISO, IEEE, ANSI

What is SEI? CMM? ISO? IEEE? ANSI? Will it Help?

SEI

SEI stands for ‘Software Engineering Institute’.

SEI at Carnegie-Mellon University was started by the U.S. Defense Department to help in improving software development processes.

CMM

CMM stands for ‘Capability Maturity Model’. It was developed by the SEI. It’s a model of 5 levels of organizational ‘Maturity’ that determines the effectiveness in delivering quality software.

It is geared to large organizations such as large U.S. Defense Department contractors. However, many of the QA processes involved are appropriate to any organization, and if reasonably applied, they can be helpful.

Organizations can receive CMM ratings by undergoing assessments by qualified auditors.

Level 1 – Characterized by chaos, periodic panics, and heroic efforts required by individuals to complete projects successfully. If few of any processes are in place, then successes may not be repeatable.

Level 2 – Software project tracking, requirements management, realistic planning & configuration management processes are in place, and successful practices can be repeated.

Level 3 – Standard software development and maintenance processes are integrated throughout an organization, a Software Engineering Process Group is in place to oversee software processes, and training programs are used to ensure understanding and compliance.

Level 4 – Metrics are used to track productivity, processes, and products. Project performance is predictable, and quality is consistently high.

Level 5 – The focus is on continuous process improvement. The impact of new processes and technologies can be predicted and effectively implemented when required.

ISO

ISO stands for ‘International Organization for Standards’.

The ISO 9001, 9002, and 9003 standards concern quality systems that are assessed by outside auditors, and they apply to many kinds of production and manufacturing organizations, and not just software.

The most comprehensive is 9001, and this is the most often used one by software development organizations. It covers documentation, design, development, production, testing, installation, servicing, and other processes.

ISO 9000-3 (not the same as 9003) is a guideline for applying ISO 9001 to software development organizations. The U.S. version of the ISO 9000 series standards is exactly the same as the international version and is called the ANSI/ASQ Q9000 series.

The U.S. version can be purchased directly from the ASQ (American Society for Quality) or the ANSI organizations. To be ISO 9001 certified, a third-party auditor assesses an organization, and certification is typically good for about 3 years, after which a complete reassessment is required.

Note that ISO 9000 certification does not show quality products necessarily, but it indicates only that documented processes are followed.

IEEE

IEEE stands for ‘Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’.

Among the other things, creates standards such as ‘IEEE Standard for Software Test Documentation’ (IEEE/ANSI Standard 829), ‘IEEE Standard of Software Unit Testing (IEEE/ANSI Standard 1008), ‘IEEE Standard for Software Quality Assurance Plans’ (IEEE/ANSI Standard 730), and others.

ANSI

ANSI stands for ‘American National Standards Institute’.

ANSI is the primary industrial standards body in the U.S. that publishes some software-related standards in conjunction with the IEEE and ASQ (American Society for Quality).

Conclusion

We hope that this tutorial on various IT Certifications would have been an eye-opener for you to take a wise decision in your career.

Do you know any other important certification courses? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Recommended Reading

78 thoughts on “What is SEI? CMM? ISO? IEEE? ANSI? Will it Help?”

  1. Hi Gayatri,
    as per your question its wrong

    SEI (Software Engineering Institute) it is provindg the cmmi

    Reply
  2. I want to have the standard for SEI CMM Level 3 certification. Which are the Certifying Bodies doing this certification. Pl. let me know.What is the preparation required , if a organization wishes to be certified to this standard?
    Thanks & Regards
    Priya Ahire

    Reply
  3. Hi
    There are plenty of certifying agencies and freelancers as well for CMMI L3 certification. The agencies are like KPMG, TUV, and DNV etc…You can search for SEI registered freelancers as well.

    The approximate process for CMMI is like this,

    1. Find the consultation agency,
    2. Find the certification body,
    3. Perform Gap analysis,
    4. Perform Process definition,
    5. Implementation,
    6. Assessment [Stage 1, 2…],
    7. Final assessment.

    Thanks!!
    Suresh

    Reply
  4. Hi Priya
    There are plenty of certifying agencies and freelancers as well for CMMI L3 certification. The agencies are like KPMG, TUV, and DNV etc…You can search for SEI registered freelancers as well.

    The approximate process for CMMI is like this,

    1. Find the consultation agency,
    2. Find the certification body,
    3. Perform Gap analysis,
    4. Perform Process definition,
    5. Implementation,
    6. Assessment [Stage 1, 2…],
    7. Final assessment.

    Thanks!!
    Suresh

    Reply
  5. differents b/t sei-cmm and iso9000

    Reply
  6. Hi Mani,

    CMMi and ISO both are the basically quality certifications for organizations. ISO standards are generic, any of the company can implement the QMS i.e. ISO 9001:2008. There are only 8 standards in ISO9001:2008. ISO conduct surveillance audit every year and recertification audit after 3 years to ensure whether the organization is working as per the standards defined in organization’s Quality Management System.

    Similarly in CMMi Level 5, there are 22 process areas and organization has to follow the same. There are accessors, who access the the organization’s processes. CMMi framework is very wise, you will have to go through with the process areas to understand in detail.

    Basically these standards or process areas are just the guidelines for the organization to work.

    Reply
  7. Hi balu

    Matrix and metrics are different

    Reply
  8. I am studying M.E Software engineering……Shall I become a member of SEI

    Reply
  9. as cmm includes 5 levels of standards, what are the levels involved in iso for software development?…….Please let me know if any one knows exactly.

    Reply
  10. mmmm… very complex.,

    Reply
  11. TYVM you’ve solved all my probemsl

    Reply
  12. latest iso standard ,please provide the answer

    Reply
  13. hi friends

    hi i want know about testing sofware quality

    Reply
  14. hi friends
    plz let me know,the difference btwen cmmi and sei cmm…
    sei cmm is better than cmmi….?

    give me rpy asap
    thanking you

    Reply
  15. Hi to all,
    pls, dont ask a question to clear particular doubts as here, good to search your questions on search engines.It helps will you get more answers and logics of your questions.

    Reply
  16. @Teja

    there is no difference between CMM and SEI CMMI , SEI is a certification body where it will give the certification from Carnegie Mellon University U.S.A. CMM is now changed into CMMI where it was updated.

    Reply
  17. HI All,

    Hello friends I have manual testing knowledge and want to learn automation well any one suggest me is it better to take complete course of testing tools or shal i go for live project practically pls mail me your valuable suggestions on eru.kranthi@gmail.com

    Thanks
    Kranthi
    +919885715454

    Reply
  18. why we are use the SEI CMM model 5?what’s the reason?
    why we have to use any other model?plz reply my mail id
    snithy07@gmail.com

    Reply
  19. #3 Vjkt, #18 naz, #29 Suresh, #52 PRIYA AHIRE, #59 Deepa
    Dear All, When my organization was going through CMM appraisal as an ATM I was very confused!
    After appraisal I decided to write something which can help non-CMMI guys to understand basic of appraisal. Please go though the link below. It will not answer all your questions but you will get little idea of appraisal.

    Softwaretestinghelp.com/cmmi-appraisals-testers-journey-as-an-appraisal-team-member-atm/

    Reply
  20. Dear Sreedhar (#39 ),
    CMM is not individual responsibility it covers everyone in organization from CEO to Maintenance people.

    Any way if you are CEO I will suggest hire a consultant. I have explained same in my article. ( see link above)
    But still If you are not CEO/CFO/COO etc.. Its good you are trying to improve, Take small steps.
    • Have regular meeting with team (Weekly, Daily or monthly whatever suitable ) in CMM they call it “Vision Sharing”. Record MoM ( Minutes of Meeting and maintain attendance sheet)
    • Identify Risk and maintain it somewhere so that you can have action plans against it, monitor your action and discuss it with team.
    • Create templates (SRS, STP, IRS, BTM, Checklist, STC, STD etc) you can take reference of IEEE for creating template.
    • Plan all your activity in advance, you can use Microsoft Project for the same but if it’s not there at least you should plan in Excel sheet and keep monitoring it. It will help you to identify reasons for delay, work load balance, indentifying risk in advance.
    • Have review of the entire document you create and request reviewer to maintain it in Review Log. After review points closed Baseline the document so that no change will be accepted after baseline and if it happens there should be record of it somewhere like in CR (Change Request) form. Have repository for document with access control.
    • Identify CI (configurable Item) and Record in advance.

    Well I have to stop here,this list will go very long. You will not get CMMI certificate for these practices but when you finally go for appraisal these little steps will help you.

    Reply
  21. Dear Venkat, #17

    Normally this grouping is done before design. Based on functionality/capability or some kind of logical grouping etc. It’s done by development team. Testers don’t do it normally. But if development team is offering the application in part you can plan and write test cases accordingly.

    Reply
  22. Dear Beena, #37

    There are standard for coding and tools are there which can review code.
    Compatibility and Performance are two different kind of testing. Performance will be checked by Load or Stress testing using some tool.

    Reply
  23. Vjkt, #18 naz, #29 Suresh, #52 PRIYA AHIRE, #59 Deepa
    Dear All, When my organization was going through CMM appraisal as an ATM I was very confused!
    After appraisal I decided to write something which can help non-CMMI guys to understand basic of appraisal. Please go though the link below. It will not answer all your questions but you will get little idea of appraisal.

    Softwaretestinghelp.com/cmmi-appraisals-testers-journey-as-an-appraisal-team-member-atm/

    Reply
  24. 3 Vjkt, #18 naz, #29 Suresh, #52 PRIYA AHIRE, #59 Deepa

    Dear All,
    When my organization was going through CMM appraisal as an ATM I was very confused!
    After appraisal I decided to write something which can help non-CMMI guys to understand basic of appraisal. Please go though the link below. It will not answer all your questions but you will get little idea of appraisal.

    cmmi-appraisals-testers-journey-as-an-appraisal-team-member-atm

    Reply
  25. Hello everyone,

    I need your help.

    I was handling QCQA in software company in that we test the software by manual testing not by code. so i just need help how we can improve the manual testing.

    or is there any qcqa standard like 5s in manufacturing /plant company

    plz.send me the mail if possible.

    Reply
  26. I HV copmpleted Mech engg and not computer friendly .I want to make
    Career in sof test and dev pls can anybody help me to
    To know the basics and advance thing in easy language and
    Through video tuts pls help me out what to do, how to get know thingssright conceptually and basically right from soft
    Intallati on step wise procedures and more.

    Reply
  27. what is greenbelt. in software quality?when it comes

    Reply
  28. Valuable analysis ! I am thankful for the analysis ! Does someone know if my business would be able to get ahold of a blank a form example to use ?

    Reply

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