Topic: Capability Maturity Model

Capability Maturity Model - Developed by the software community in 1986 with leadership from the SEI. The CMM describes the principles and practices underlying software process maturity. It 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. The focus is on identifying key process areas and the exemplary practices that may comprise a disciplined software process.What makes up the CMM? The CMM is organized into five maturity levels:
· Initial
· Repeatable
· Defined
· Manageable
· Optimizing Except for Level 1, each maturity level decomposes into several key process areas that indicate the areas an organization should focus on to improve its software process.

Level 1 - Initial Level: Disciplined process, Standard, Consistent process, Predictable process, Continuously Improving process

Level 2 – Repeatable: Key practice areas - Requirements management, Software project planning, Software project tracking & oversight, Software subcontract management, Software quality assurance, Software configuration management

Level 3 – Defined: Key practice areas - Organization process focus, Organization process definition, Training program, Integrated software management, Software product engineering, Intergroup coordination, Peer reviews

Level 4 – Manageable: Key practice areas - Quantitative Process Management, Software Quality Management

Level 5 – Optimizing: Key practice areas - Defect prevention, Technology change management, Process change management