BD-Institute.org



		Frequently Asked Questions For answers to questions not included in the current FAQs, please contact info@bd-institute.org. About the BD-Institute About BD-CMM About the BD-Institute Question: Who are the members of BD-Institute's Board of Directors? Answer: The BD-Institute Board of Directors is comprised of 5-9 members, including representation from the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP). For a list of current Board members, see Board of Directors. Question: Does the BD-Institute have alliances with the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), the International Project Management Association (IPMA), the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), or the Society for Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP)? Answer: The BD-Institute does not have formal alliances with SEI, IPMA, NCMA, or SCIP. However, we maintain good working relationships with these organizations. Question: How can my organization get an executive overview regarding the BD-Institute and the BD-CMM? Answer: To arrange for an executive overview or other support in introducing the BD-Institute and BD-CMM into your organization, please contact info@bd-institute.org. [back to top] Question: If we undertake an appraisal and subsequent process improvement, how can we assure that we will achieve measurable or observable business goals as part of achieving a particular maturity level? Answer: Having the BD-Institute conduct an appraisal and implementing process improvements based on that appraisal are not, in and of themselves, assurance that your company will achieve measurable results. However, the BD-Institute recommends follow-up appraisal as the best way to determine compliance with BD-CMM goals, and we are confident that a well-planned and properly executed improvement program that is aligned with both BD-CMM goals and your internal business goals has a high probability to produce results that are both measurable and observable in your organization. Question: Who will do appraisals? Answer: Appraisals are performed only by Certified Appraisers, who are certified as a result of a rigorous training program. Moreover, the BD-Institute monitors Certified Appraisers and requires continuing education in order to assure consistency and professionalism. Question: How long does a full appraisal take to complete? Answer: Time required to perform a formal BD-CMM appraisal varies by complexity of the appraisal task (based on company size and operating environment). Typically, the process requires 6-10 weeks. For more information, see Appraisal Services. [back to top] Question: What is the typical cost of a BD-CMM appraisal? Answer: Costs for BD-CMM appraisals also vary by complexity of the appraisal task (based on company size and operating environment). Please contact info@bd-institute.org to discuss requirements and receive a rough-order-of-magnitude quotation. Question: Are the results of appraisals disclosed to anyone? Answer: Results of appraisals are considered confidential and are not disclosed outside of the organization appraised and the BD-Institute. This policy is enforced through the BD-Institute's code of conduct. About the BD-CMM Question: What is the BD-CMM and how did it originate? Answer: BD-CMM is a structured framework of BD best practices designed to provide an improvement path and related guidance for organizations wishing to optimize their BD capability. It originated as a BD-specific adaptation of the CMM approach pioneered by SEI, through the combined work of Shipley Associates and APMP. Question: How can we get copies of the BD-CMM? Answer: Hard copies of the BD-CMM are available from the BD-Institute. In addition, a PDF of the model is available for download from this website (see Publications)). [back to top] Question: What is the relationship between BD-CMM, other CMMs, and CMMI? Answer: The BD-CMM is compatible with all other CMMs in terms of structure and approach. In addition, it complements CMMI, in that it extends the CMMI focus on quality of delivery to address quality of how business is developed to result in delivery. It is also complementary in that the primary CMMI focus is internal, whereas BD-CMM applies the same approaches to focus on the external environment of customers. Question: Does BD-CMM "fit" with quality management systems like ISO 9000? Answer: BD-CMM aligns well with ISO 9000 principles and requirements. Detailed comparisons of BD-CMM Key Process Areas (KPAs) and ISO 9000 principles and requirements show compatibility and direct synergy. Question: Is the BD-CMM applicable industry-wide, including smaller organizations with limited resources? Answer: Like all CMMs, the BD-CMM defines the common features of all Key Process Areas (KPAs) at a high level that focuses on best practices and maturity in ways that are inherently scalable. Beta tests of BD-CMM have included application to companies having annual revenue of less than $50 million, all the way up to large organizations with annual revenue well in excess of $500 million. Question: Why should my company consider adopting the BD-CMM as its business development continuous improvement model? Answer: Over the last 10-15 years, the best practices embedded within BD-CMM have been shown to produce superior BD results in a wide variety of companies and business environments. Question: What is the business case for applying BD-CMM? Answer: Each year, BD-CMM adopters report progress as part of the Annual BD-CMM Leadership Conference. They consistently report significant improvements in business results. Analyses of case studies indicate excellent return-on-investment (ROI), with results driving benefit directly to a company's "bottom line." These case studies are available as part of the conference proceedings, which are available on the Publications webpage. Question: Can we get access to the benchmark data behind the BD-CMM? Answer: The database that supports BD-CMM includes proprietary information on a significant number of companies. It may only be accessed by BD-Institute personnel. All access is governed by BD-Institute policies and code of conduct. [back to top]
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