We [the MSF team at Microsoft] are getting asked a lot, how does someone choose between the MSF for Agile Software Development and the MSF for CMMI Process Improvement templates in Team System. We've decided to issue some guidance on this choice and will be including it in the final revisions of both process templates. This is a preview...

MSF for Agile Software Development, like all good agile methods, relies on people over process. MSF for CMMI Process Improvement introduces an agile approach to CMMI and has extended the guidance from MSF for Agile Software Development with additional formality, reviews, verification and audit. In this way, MSF for CMMI Process Improvement relies on process and conformance to process rather than relying purely on trust and the ability of the individual team members.

MSF for CMMI Process Improvement has an organization wide focus and scope and formalizes continuous improvement activities. MSF for CMMI Process Improvement provides a framework for objectively measuring continuous improvement based on the teachings of W. Edwards Deming. Choose MSF for CMMI Process Improvement if your organization seeks to build an environment and culture of quality assurance and continuous improvement.

MSF for Agile Software Development does include learning opportunities in the form of iteration retrospectives. Improvement relies on the people on the team and focuses on the project rather than the organization as a whole. MSF for Agile Software Development relies on tacit knowledge and experience of the team members. Choose MSF for Agile Software Development if reliance on the team and informal accumulation of improvement knowledge are appropriate for your context.