Capability maturity model integration is a system used to improve an organization’s performance by integrating multiple techniques. The model has five phases, with 16 major process areas, and is divided into three categories. The system has been criticized for being expensive and not suitable for organizations without a process-based culture.
Capability maturity model integration is a system used to integrate multiple techniques to improve the performance of an organization. The model is applied to a specific process performed by an organization, such as creating new products or choosing a supplier. The system has five phases, described as maturity levels, which define the effectiveness of a process.
The capability maturity model integration divides all elements of a process into process areas. Each of these deals with a specific element of the process. The idea is that this not only acts as a checklist for tackling all elements of the process, but also helps bring together respective improvements to complement and match each other.
There are 16 major process areas used in all instances of the capability maturity model. There are then further process areas, depending on which of the three categories, or ‘constellations’, the process falls into. These categories are Acquisition, Development, and Services.
The milestones achieved for each process area are assigned to one of five maturity levels, starting with an entry-level one, where the process is not under control and the company reacts to events. In the second level, the process is better managed and is designed around a specific project rather than being ‘one size fits all’. In the third level, the process is refined to become proactive rather than reactive. In the fourth level, the process is measured and controlled. In level five, the process is under control and the emphasis is on improvement.
The concept of Capability Maturity Model Integration comes from research funded by the US Department of Defense. The research led to the creation of the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. The university holds certain intellectual property rights on the term ‘Capabilities Maturity Model’, which describes the initial framework developed by the research. Capability maturity model integration refers to models that have been adapted and refined from this original framework.
There are some criticisms of the capability model integration. It’s not always suitable for organizations that don’t already have a process-based culture, for example. Critics also argue that the system is prohibitively expensive and creates too much paperwork.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
