COLLEGE PARK, MD., -May 13, 2011- As Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal) incorporates software development into its real-time framework in public policy, it has initiated the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) training necessary to achieve the maturity levels required to provide its clients with solid applications and data-driven solutions.  According to the Software Engineering Institute (SEI, 2008), CMMI helps “integrate traditionally separate organizational functions, set process improvement goals and priorities, provide guidance for quality processes, and provide a point of reference for appraising current processes.” 

Through its partner, the Fraunhofer Center for Experimental Software Engineering, also in M Square Research Park, Optimal received customized training on the best practices for multiple approaches in the Software Development Lifecycle (SLDC). The maturity levels of the program range from Level 1 to Level 5.  Each level is a summary assessment of how efficient and proactive a company is. In terms of software development, early assessments indicate that Optimal is currently tracking for CMMI Level 3, with some Level 5 processes also being tracked. This indicates its processes are defined and the organization is proactive.  With guidance from Fraunhofer, plans are being made to achieve Level 3 fully within the next year.

*********************************************************************

Optimal Solutions Group, LLC

Founded in 2000, Optimal Solutions Group, LLC is a nonpartisan public policy research and technical assistance firm that stands out through its quantitative expertise and innovative approaches to provide rigorous, data-driven research and technical assistance to government agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic foundations. Located at the University of Maryland’s M Square Research Park in College Park, Optimal is a leader in driving real-time public policy research. Optimal has 60+ employees including multidisciplinary researchers with backgrounds in business, communication, economics, education, health policy, psychology, public policy, sociology, statistics, and urban planning. Optimal has four research centers: Health, Education, Housing, and Workforce Development and Social Policy.

The FraunhoferCenter for Experimental Software Engineering

The Fraunhofer Center for Experimental Software Engineering (CESE) is a nonprofit applied research and technology transfer organization which serves  one of several Fraunhofer USA centers. Fraunhofer USA is a subsidiary of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft – the largest applied research organization in Europe. Fraunhofer CESE is an affiliate of the Department of Computer Science  at the University of Maryland - College Park, and conducts joint research with the University of Maryland Experimental Software Engineering Group. The center was founded in 1997 by Dr. Victor Basili and Dr. Marvin Zelkowitz and employs over twenty researchers with diverse expertise in the areas of system and software engineering, program support, and process improvement.