- 2068 Baishakh (old course) · 5 marks
Short note: Capability Maturity Model
Short answer
CMM is an SEI framework with five maturity levels for assessing software process maturity: Initial, Repeatable, Defined, Managed, Optimizing, each with key process areas. It is used for assessment, process improvement, and contractor selection; it has been replaced by CMMI.
Write a short note on Capability Maturity Model.
The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a framework developed by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University to assess and improve the maturity of an organization's software process. It was first created for the US Department of Defense to judge the ability of software contractors.
Idea: an organization with a more mature process produces software of more predictable quality, cost and schedule. CMM gives an evolutionary path of five levels.
| Level | Characteristics | Key process areas (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Initial | Ad hoc, chaotic; depends on individuals | None |
| 2 Repeatable | Basic project management; past success repeatable | Requirements management, project planning, SQA, SCM |
| 3 Defined | Organization-wide standard process | Process definition, training, peer reviews |
| 4 Managed | Process and quality measured and controlled | Quantitative process management, quality management |
| 5 Optimizing | Continuous improvement | Defect prevention, technology and process change management |
Key process areas (KPAs): each level (except level 1) has KPAs, which are groups of related activities that must be done well to reach that level. Each KPA has goals, commitments, abilities, activities, measurement, and verification.
Uses of CMM
- Assessment: an organization rates its current maturity level.
- Process improvement: it identifies the next KPAs to work on.
- Contractor selection: customers judge the capability of software suppliers.
Limitations: it is costly and documentation-heavy for small companies, and it focuses on process rather than directly on the product. CMM has since been replaced by CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration).
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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