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An Introduction to CMMI

Firefly_I need a banner graphic for a web page on the subject of the Capability Maturity M

CMMI stands for: Capability Maturity Model – Integration. The name reflects the origin of the CMMI as a framework to integrate together a set of separate but related capability maturity models.

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It is a long-established framework of process ‘best practice’ intended to help organizations improve their overall capability and performance. It captures practices that have been distilled from lessons learned over decades of usage within a vast range of organizations and industries, and which have been proven to be effective elements in high-performing processes. Although originating from the software development industry, the latest version of the model now defines 8 specialist areas of interest (known as domains) which include Development, Data Management, Service Delivery, Safety and Security.

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CMMI is not a methodology, nor is it a rigid set of processes; it describes the characteristics of effective processes without specifying how these characteristics should be implemented. It defines the ‘What’ not the ‘How’. This makes CMMI highly compatible with other standards, methods and frameworks which can provide additional focus and detail in certain key areas (e.g. ITIL, Six Sigma, ISO 27001).

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All organizations have ‘processes’ of some form; they may vary considerably in their degree of formality, and they may not even be called processes, but there are usually some ‘regular’ ways of working. These can be compared to the CMMI best practices to identify areas where improvements can be made to strengthen the organization and to build up their capabilities. The mechanism by which this comparison of an organization’s performed processes to the CMMI framework is achieved is known as an ‘Appraisal’, and often an appraisal is one of the first steps for an organization to take when adopting the CMMI framework.

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The following pages will give you an overview of the CMMI and will cover the following topics:

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A brief history of CMMI  - provides a historical context for the current model and explain its origins and key events that have shaped its current form.

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What is the CMMI? – a more detailed description of what the model is, how it is structured and how its key concepts can be useful to your organization

Who Uses CMMI? – who uses the model, where in the world is it being adopted and what types of industry have adopted it.

What are the Benefits of CMMI? – what can the CMMI do to help your organization to develop its capabilities and improve its performance.​

How can you get started with CMMI? - an outline of guidance for the adoption of the CMMI within your organization.

​The CMMI Institute and the Partner Network – help in finding certified individuals to help you plan and conduct appraisals, access training and certifications and discuss consultancy and support.

The information on this web site is provided to help introduce the CMMI and to provoke further investigation. We will endeavour to keep the information up to date and factually correct whilst respecting and acknowledging that the IPR for the model content rests with the CMMI Institute and ultimately the CMMI Institute web site and resources represent the definitive resource of information. (https://cmmiinstitute.com/). Any content provided here is based on information that is within the public domain and the IPR and all registered trademarks rest with the CMMI Institute.

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