Many reference models were developed for software process improvement. Each model, however, is an idealized prescription that is applicable in a lim-ited set of situation only. This paper has investigated how an existing refer-ence model can be tailored to a domain it has not been designed for initially. The tailoring approach is based on translating the reference model to the new domain and on inductive interviews for evaluating the translated model. The approach has been applied for assessing and improving strategic require-ments engineering practice in a healthcare organization with a framework for software product management.