Mani MasoodCapability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) broadly refers to a “process improvement” approach that is based on a structured model. Originally the CMMI model was developed by the software development industry to manage their application or software development process in a structured “gate-controlled” manner.
CMMI can be used to assess an organization against a scale of five stages or maturity levels. Each level ranks the organization according to its standardization of processes in the subject area being assessed.
The subject areas can be as diverse as software and systems engineering, project management, risk management, information technology, personnel management or even general organizational management as a whole.
Various organizations have adopted a modified version of the 5 stages or levels of CMMI, however following is generalized list which is widely used.
1. Initial
2. Defined
3. Managed
4. Measured
5. Optimized
Each stage highlights a condition that the organization is going through – specially in regard to its Systems, People, and Processes. The scale at each stage establishes the level of maturity the people, processes, and systems have developed in day-to-day operations.
CMMI is industry independent, it is used in service industry, IT, or manufacturing equally. However there is great value of applying this approach in “Internal Audit” and “Risk Management” practice.
Grading any organizational department on this scale can serves as road map for the department to follow for improvement.
CMMI is a very elaborate subject and I will write more about each stage and its impact on people, processes, and systems.
Mani
