What is CMMI?
Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is a world-class performance improvement framework for organizations. It helps businesses streamline processes, encourage productive behaviors, and decrease risks in software, product, and service development.
Unlike ISO, CMMI does not provide a "certificate" but an Appraisal Rating (Maturity Level). The latest version, CMMI V3.0, integrates development, services, and data management into a single model.
CMMI Maturity Levels
CMMI rates organizations on a scale of 1 to 5 based on their process maturity:
- Level 1 (Initial): Processes are unpredictable, poorly controlled, and reactive. Work gets done, but often over budget and late.
- Level 2 (Managed): Projects are planned, performed, measured, and controlled. Basic project management is in place.
- Level 3 (Defined): Processes are well-characterized and understood, and are described in standards, procedures, tools, and methods. (Most common target for tenders)
- Level 4 (Quantitatively Managed): The organization and projects establish quantitative objectives for quality and process performance and use them as criteria in managing processes.
- Level 5 (Optimizing): Focus is on continuous process improvement through quantitative feedback and piloting innovative ideas and technologies.
Why Get CMMI Appraised?
- Government Tenders: Mandatory for many high-value defense, IT, and aerospace contracts in India and abroad.
- Process Efficiency: Reduces defects, rework, and costs by standardizing best practices.
- Global Recognition: Validates your capability to deliver high-quality products/services to international clients.
- Predictability: Improves the ability to meet project deadlines and budget targets consistently.
The CMMI Appraisal Process
- Gap Analysis: We assess your current processes against CMMI practices to identify gaps.
- Process Definition: We help you design and document processes (policies, procedures, templates) to close the gaps.
- Implementation & Training: Your team is trained, and the new processes are deployed across projects.
- SCAMPI Appraisal: An authorized Lead Appraiser conducts the Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI) to verify compliance.
- Rating Publishing: Upon success, your maturity level is published on the CMMI Institute (ISACA) website.
Difference Between CMMI and ISO 9001
| Feature | CMMI | ISO 9001 |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Process Improvement & Maturity | Quality Management System Compliance |
| Structure | 5 Maturity Levels | Pass/Fail Certification |
| Depth | Detailed, specific to engineering/services | Generic, applicable to any industry |
| Outcome | Appraisal Rating (e.g., Level 3) | Certificate of Registration |
