iSQI TMMi-P_Syll2.1 - TMMi Test Maturity Model Integration Professional (TMMi-P)

At TMMi Level 3, the organisation's test processes become more structured, managed, and standardised. It requires defining and implementing a consistent set of test processes across projects and organisational units. One key factor for achieving TMMi Level 3 is the integration of process asset development.

"Process Asset Development" is directly related to establishing organisational test process assets, which is a critical element at TMMi Level 3. This practice area includes developing and maintaining organisational process assets, which encompass the standard processes that will be used across various projects. These assets are required to ensure that testing is a well-defined, repeatable, and efficient process throughout the organisation.

According to the TMMi Framework 1.3, process asset development supports the implementation of defined and repeatable processes and helps with creating guidelines for tailoring processes across the organisation. It provides the necessary framework for consistency in test planning, execution, and reporting, which are key at this maturity level​.

This practice aligns with the goals of TMMi Level 3, where the focus is on defining, standardising, and integrating the test lifecycle within the overall development lifecycle, thus ensuring that test processes are well-established across the organisation. Hence, Process Asset Development (Option B) is critical for the organisation's progression to TMMi Level 3.

In the scenario described, testing is performed ad hoc by business analysts who do not have defined test roles or a structured career path within the organisation. The process area that needs attention here is Test Organization (TMMi Level 3). This process area is crucial for establishing a structured test group with dedicated roles and responsibilities for testing, rather than relying on business analysts for testing as a secondary task.

The Test Organization process area focuses on establishing a formalised test organisation within the company, defining test functions and responsibilities, and promoting testing as a recognised profession with defined career paths. This would address the shortcomings of the current setup by creating a dedicated, skilled testing team, thus improving the consistency and quality of testing activities within the bank​​.

This statement is not true regarding a staged model. In a staged model, such as TMMi, organisations must follow a pre-defined path through maturity levels, and the process areas are organised in a fixed order that must be achieved sequentially. Each maturity level forms the foundation for the next, meaning that an organisation cannot achieve process areas at different capability levels independently, as is possible in a continuous model like CMMI. The staged model is designed to ensure that each process area is fully implemented and institutionalised before progressing to the next maturity level.

For a formal TMMi assessment, both staff interviews and document study are required to collect sufficient evidence. The assessment must adhere to the TMMi Assessment Method Accreditation Requirements (TAMAR), which state that formal assessments require the corroboration of interview data with documentary evidence (artifacts). These can include documents, templates, or screenshots, ensuring that the evaluation is robust, repeatable, and auditable​​.

Test Process Optimization is the TMMi Level 5 process area specifically aimed at identifying new testing technologies and transitioning them into the organisation. This process area focuses on continuously improving the test process by evaluating and adopting new tools, methods, and technologies that can enhance testing efficiency and effectiveness. Test Process Optimization encourages organisations to stay ahead of industry developments and integrate innovative testing practices.

This statement is FALSE because TMMi is flexible and does not require the imposition of a predefined set of practices in Agile organizations. Instead, it encourages the adaptation of practices to fit the Agile context. TMMi allows for alternative practices that achieve the same goals as the expected practices, making it possible to integrate testing improvements in a way that aligns with Agile principles. The focus is on continuous improvement, not compliance with rigid practices.

TMMi References:

TMMi emphasizes flexibility in adapting practices, particularly in Agile environments where imposed processes would contradict Agile values of adaptability and continuous improvement​​.

The statement that all defects should be analyzed to prevent as many defects as possible is FALSE. In the Defect Prevention process area at TMMi Level 5, only a subset of defects—those that are recurring or considered to be of significant impact—are analyzed. Analyzing all defects would be inefficient and not always necessary. Instead, a targeted approach is used to identify common causes of defects and implement actions to prevent their recurrence.

TMMi References:

The Defect Prevention process area is based on the analysis of a subset of defects to find and eliminate common causes​​.

To improve the quality of test cases and reduce defects in production, addressing the practice of "Identify and Prioritize Test Conditions" under Specific Goal 1 (SG 1) of the Test Design and Execution process area is essential. This specific practice involves identifying conditions based on an analysis of the test items and prioritising them based on risk and other factors. By improving the identification and prioritisation of test conditions, organisations can ensure that they focus on the most critical aspects of the system, thereby increasing the effectiveness of their testing efforts and reducing defects in production.

The Learning Phase in the IDEAL improvement framework is the final phase in the cycle and plays a crucial role in ensuring continuous improvement. Contrary to the belief that it is less important because most work has been done in previous phases, this phase is critical for learning from the experience gained during the improvement program. The Learning Phase ensures that the organisation refines its ability to implement change effectively.

The key activities in this phase are:

Analyze and Validate: This involves reviewing what has been achieved, whether the goals have been met, and identifying lessons learned. It focuses on what worked well and what could be done better.

Propose Future Actions: Based on the analysis, recommendations are made to improve future programs. These proposals are often forwarded to management for consideration.

Thus, the Learning Phase is essential for organisational growth as it solidifies the learning from past improvements and applies it to future cycles, fostering continuous refinement of processes.

The TMMi framework is applicable to all levels of testing, including static testing (such as reviews) and dynamic testing, regardless of the phase of the software development lifecycle. TMMi encompasses structured testing activities across various test levels such as component testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing, along with both static and dynamic techniques. Therefore, all levels of testing can be improved using the TMMi model.