4.2.2. Initial key processes The processes in the process model which contribute most directly to the delivery of products and services are those within the Customer-Supplier and Engineering process categories. Processes from the Project, Support and Organization process categories provide a more indirect contribution. Key processes are identified starting with the processes in the Customer-Supplier and Engineering process areas. Any processes in these categories which are not relevant to the specified requirement should be eliminated, and the remainder designated as the initial set of key processes.

4.2.3. Default generic practice adequacy targets A good starting position is to state, for each key process, that all of the generic practices in the first three capability levels - Performed Informally, Planned and Tracked, and Well Defined - should be fully adequate; all of the other generic practices will not be required. This approach ensures firstly that processes are complete with fully adequate base practices; secondly that generic practices are in place to eliminate unpredictability, missed deadlines, budget overspend and reduced output quality; and thirdly that processes are deployed following organization-wide standard process definitions, thus providing confidence that future performance will be consistent with past accomplishments.

4.2.4. Adjusting generic practice adequacy targets Requiring that generic practices in the Quantitatively Controlled capability level should also be fully or largely adequate for a given process may reduce performance risks. For instance, a particular specified requirement may demand that some processes be controlled quantitatively. Generic practices within the Continuously Improving capability level may occasionally also be needed, but for many organizations, this degree of process management may not yet be practical. Alternatively, process capability determination sponsors may feel that for a particular key process, only generic practices within the first two capability levels are appropriate.

4.2.5. Adding further processes Many generic practices are related to processes within the Project, Support and Organization process categories. For example, if the generic practice 2.2.2 '...Do configuration management..' has been included for a process within the Engineering process category, then the Configuration Management process within the Support process category may also be included as a key process. The target capability for processes in the Project, Support and Organization process categories is determined by the extent to which they support generic practices applying to the initial set of key processes. Other processes from the Project, Support and Organization process categories may also be included in the target capability statement where they are relevant to the specified requirement. Note that the specified requirement may be for an organizational capability, rather than a product or service. The specified requirement may be to establish a strong configuration management process as an end in itself. This class of specified requirement would arise from an organization's business goals and priorities.