Which practice focuses on maintaining the effectiveness of processes over time?

The practice that focuses on maintaining the effectiveness of processes over time is Sustainment. This concept emphasizes the need to ensure that processes remain relevant and efficient even as external circumstances or internal organizational changes occur. Sustainment involves monitoring and adapting processes, making necessary updates, and ensuring that teams continue to adhere to established procedures, which is crucial for long-term success.

In contrast to Sustainment, Configuration Management is primarily about maintaining the integrity and consistency of a product's components and overall system throughout its lifecycle. Process Optimization generally focuses on improving processes to achieve better performance or efficiency rather than long-term maintenance. Continuous Improvement, while similar to Sustainment in promoting ongoing enhancements, is more about making incremental changes and adjustments to optimize and improve processes rather than maintaining their effectiveness over time.

Overall, Sustainment captures the essence of maintaining process effectiveness directly, ensuring that processes are sustained in line with organizational goals and changing conditions.