Maturity model

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). It is required by many U.S. Government contracts, especially in software development. CMU claims CMMI can guide process improvement across a project, division, or entire organization. CMMI defines the following maturity levels for processes: Incomplete, Initial, Managed, Defined, Quantitatively Managed, and Optimizing. Version 2.0 was published in 2018.

The Six Stages of Process Maturity

Process maturity outlines the evolution of organizational processes from unpredictable and inefficient to optimized and data-driven. The following six defined stages provide organizations with a clear roadmap to assess and optimize their processes for sustained success systematically:

1. Incomplete

At this stage, work “may or may not get completed.” Goals are not established, and processes are either partially formed or fail to meet organizational needs.

2. Initial

Processes are unpredictable and reactive. At this stage, “work gets completed, but it’s often delayed and over budget.” This is the worst stage for a business, characterized by a high-risk and inefficient environment.

3. Managed

A certain level of project management is achieved. Projects are “planned, performed, measured, and controlled.” However, many issues still need to be addressed to improve overall efficiency and effectiveness.

4. Defined

Organizations at this stage become more proactive. They implement “organization-wide standards” that “provide guidance across projects, programs, and portfolios.” Businesses recognize their shortcomings, set improvement goals, and actively work to address weaknesses.

5. Quantitatively Managed

Processes become more measured and controlled. Organizations rely on quantitative data to establish predictable processes that meet stakeholder needs. Risks are identified early, and data-driven insights help to resolve process deficiencies.

6. Optimized

At this final stage, processes focus on addressing common causes of variation and making adjustments to improve performance. The goal is to achieve the established quantitative process improvement objectives.