• What does CMMI mean?
• Where did it come from?
• What is it used for?
• Why should I bother with it?
• Is CMMI for everyone?
• What improvements can I expect?
• What's SCAMPI?
• What's the future of CMMI?

What is CMMI used for?

Commercial and government organizations use the CMMI models to assist in defining process improvements for systems engineering, software engineering, and integrated product and process development.

Organizations use the processes to help them develop, acquire and maintain products and services, and to benchmark themselves against others. Better processes can mean lower costs and better quality results, as well as more realistic timing estimates for projects.

However, like any framework, CMMI is not a quick fix for all that ails a development organization. SEI cautions that improvement projects will likely be measured in months and years, not days and weeks. Because they usually have more knowledge and resources, larger organizations may find they get better results, but CMMI process changes can also help smaller companies.

The SEI does not offer certification of any form (anyone who tells you otherwise is fibbing, probably for profit). It simply licenses and authorizes lead appraisers to conduct appraisals. Companies may report their results on the published appraisals website, but it is not mandatory.

Why should I bother with it?

SEI intends its models and appraisal methods for use in self improvement, to help raise the level of quality of products and assist companies in better predicting the time and budget required to develop them. The models help create an environment to support these functions in a repeatable way. Continual improvement is built into the models.

Obtaining the greatest value from adopting the models' processes involves three key components:

• Understanding the new practices
• Not treating them as engraved in stone, but adapting them to the environment
• Sticking with the changes long enough for them to make a difference

A formal appraisal can give a company an idea of the maturity of its processes, and help it create a road map toward improvement. After all, you can't plan a route to a destination if you don't know where you currently are. Organizations may tailor the use of the models to suit their own needs and the needs of the specific project. SEI says that the models:

• Guide process improvement efforts and help organizations establish and achieve improvement goals.
• Provide a common language for cross-organizational communication and benchmarking.
• Provide an integrating, organizing framework for organizational endeavors.
• Help an organization understand what specific practices to perform, how to improve its capability in performing those practices, and what process areas to focus on next.

Organizations may also use the results of appraisals for source selection or verification of another organization's maturity level.

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