Capability Maturity Modeling - Integrated
The CMM is a process model that provides guidance to organizations to improve their ability to produce software by improving their processes. It is also used as a reference model in assessing their processes. It is the most widely used model of this kind in the world. It is a five-stage evolutionary improvement model that describes the essential practices that underlie the five stages. The five stages (or maturity levels) are:
- Level 1 (Initial) – The software process is characterized as ad hoc, and occasionally even chaotic. Few processes are defined, and success depends on individual effort and heroics. There are no key process areas (KPAs) at level 1.
- Level 2 (Repeatable) – Basic project management processes are established to track cost, schedule, and functionality. The necessary process discipline is in place to repeat earlier successes on projects with similar applications. The level 2 KPAs are requirements management, software project planning, software project tracking and oversight, software sub-contract management, software quality assurance, and software configuration management.
- Level 3 (Defined) – The software process for both management and engineering activities is documented, standardized, and integrated into a standard software process for the organization. All projects use an approved, tailored version of the organization’s standard software process for developing and maintaining software. The level 3 KPAs are organization process focus, organization process definition, training program, integrated software management, software product engineering, intergroup coordination, and peer reviews.
- Level 4 (Managed) – Detailed measures of the software process and product quality are collected. Both the software process and products are quantitatively understood and controlled. The level 4 KPAs are quantitative process management and software quality management.
- Level 5 (Optimizing) – Continuous process improvement is enabled by quantitative feedback from the process and from piloting innovative ideas and technologies. The level 5 KPAs are defect prevention, technology change management, and process change management (Paulk et al. 1995).