Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is a process level improvement training and appraisal program. Administered by the CMMI Institute, a subsidiary of ISACA, it was developed at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). CMMI can be used to guide process improvement across a project, division, or an entire organization. With five “Maturity Levels” or three “Capability Levels,” the CMMI defines the most important elements that are required to build great products, or deliver great services, and wraps them all up in a comprehensive model.
CMMI addresses following areas of interest:
CMMI was originated in software engineering but it has been highly generalized over the years to embrace other areas of interest, such as the development of hardware products, the delivery of all kinds of services, and the acquisition of products and services
What is CMMI Level 1 ?
At maturity level 1 (CMMI Level 1) processes are usually ad hoc and chaotic. The organization usually does not provide a stable environment. Success in these organizations depends on the competence and heroics of the people in the organization and not on the use of proven processes.
What is CMMI Level 2 ?
At maturity level 2, an organization has achieved all the specific and generic goals of the maturity level 2 process areas. In other words, the projects of the organization have ensured that requirements are managed and that processes are planned, performed, measured, and controlled. At maturity level 2, requirements, processes, work products, and services are managed. Commitments are established among relevant stakeholders and are revised as needed. The process discipline reflected by maturity level 2 helps to ensure that existing practices are retained during times of stress.
CMMI Level 3 is one of five “Maturity Levels” in the CMMI. Known as the “Defined” level, CMMI Level 3 is achieved when an organization successfully completes a SCAMPI A appraisal, which verifies that the organization is operating at Level 3. At maturity level 3, processes are well characterized and understood, and are described in standards, procedures, tools, and methods.
What is CMMI Level 4 ?
At maturity level 4 Sub-processes are selected that significantly contribute to overall process performance. These selected sub-processes are controlled using statistical and other quantitative techniques. Quantitative objectives for quality and process performance are established and used as criteria in managing processes. Quality and process performance measures are incorporated into the organization’s measurement repository to support fact-based decision making in the future.
What is CMMI Level 5 ?
At maturity level 5, an organization has achieved all the specific goals of the process areas assigned to maturity levels 2, 3, 4, and 5. Maturity level 5 focuses on continually improving process performance through both incremental and innovative technological improvements. A critical distinction between maturity level 4 and maturity level 5 is the type of process variation addressed. The effects of deployed process improvements are measured and evaluated against the quantitative process-improvement objectives.
