A preliminary type, form, or instance of a product or product component that serves as a model for later stages or for the final, complete version of the product. This model (physical, electronic, digital, analytical, etc.) can be used for the following (and other) purposes:

·        *assessing the feasibility of a new or unfamiliar technology
*assessing or mitigating technical risk
validating requirements
*demonstrating critical features
*qualifying a product
*qualifying a process
*characterizing performance or product features
*elucidating physical properties

1. This glossary is from Appendix C of Technical Report CMU/SEI-2002-TR-004.
2. ® CMMI is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Carnegie Mellon University.