Agile Methods and CMMI-SW: Dancing Elephant on the Internet Zone

The article explores the link between agile methods and CMMI-SW structure to find out how agile methods fit into CMMI. Agile (light) methods have been successfully used for developing internet-based applications, while CMMISW has been used for large outsourced projects. We are hoping that this paper will assist CMMI-SW certified IT Department to utilize CMMI-type (heavy/called elephant sometimes) processes in developing internet-base applications. The comparison of agile methods principles and the structure of CMMI-SW will identify areas where the first one can assist the second one in applying CMMI process in a more dynamic environment with changing requirements. Major areas of links are identified, such as validation and verification, customer involvement, project management of the software development life cycle, and the risk factor. Then two major issues are highlighted: team size/structure and human factor. Throughout these discussions, the paper provides three suggestions to strengthen the link between the AM and CMMI: HBDI creative thinking process, usability laboratories, and a multi-level/multidimensional circular team structure. The elephant may, at last, dance on the Internet zone.