A process area is a cluster of related practices in an area that, when performed collectively, satisfy a set of goals considered important for making significant improvement in that area. A software organization has achieved a specific maturity level once all the corresponding PAs are satisfied. All CMMI process areas are common to both continuous and staged representations. Each process area is defined by a set of goals and practices. There are two categories of goals and practices: · Generic goals and practices: They are part of every process area. · Specific goals and practices: They are specific to a given process area. A process area is satisfied when company processes cover all of the generic and specific goals and practices for that process area.