The Capability
Maturity Model (CMM) is a methodology used to develop and refine an
organization's software development process. The model describes a five-level
evolutionary path of increasingly organized and systematically more mature
processes. CMM was developed and is promoted by the Software Engineering
Institute (SEI), a research and development center sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Defense.
The Software
Capability Maturity Model describes the principles and practices underlying
software process maturity and is intended to help software organizations
improve the maturity of their software processes in terms of an evolutionary
path from ad hoc, chaotic processes to mature, disciplined software processes.
It is important, as
it is an objective assessment of an organization’s software capability with a
proven approach to improvements.
SCMM has five levels:
Initial - The
software process is characterised as ad hoc, and occasionally even chaotic. Few
processes are defined and success depends on individual effort and heroics.
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.
Defined - The
software process for both management and engineering activities is documented,
standardised and integrated into a standard software process for the
organisation. All projects use an approved, tailored version of the
organisation's standard software process for developing and maintaining
software.
Managed - Detailed
measures of the software process and product quality are collected. Both the
software process and products are quantitatively understood and controlled.
Optimising -
Continuous process improvement is enabled by quantitative feedback from the
process and from piloting innovative ideas and technologies.
ISO Vs CMM
The CMM is similar to
ISO 9001, one of the ISO 9000 series of standards specified by the
International Organization for Standardization. The ISO 9000 standards specify
an effective quality system for manufacturing and service industries; ISO 9001
deals specifically with software development and maintenance. The main
difference between the two systems lies in their respective purposes: ISO 9001
specifies a minimal acceptable quality level for software processes, while the
CMM establishes a framework for continuous process improvement and is more
explicit than the ISO standard in defining the means to be employed to that
end.
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