What Is Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)?

Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) isn't the kind of thing you want to encounter when you're in a hurry. If you've been told that your company needs to adopt CMMI, you might be wondering what it is and why it's so important. You might even wonder if it's a software development method or process model. Well, CMMI is all of those things—and more! It's a collection of practices and procedures designed to ensure that your organization has the tools and resources needed for successful software development. CMMI is a great way to overview your organization's processes and make sure you're on track for improvement. It's no secret that software development has been the focus of many industries for decades. It's also no secret that this industry is rife with problems, like lack of standardization and a need for uniformity in processes and procedures. The first CMMI model was developed at the Software Engineering Institute (Short for SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University. It aimed to judge the maturity of an organization's software development processes. It is used by organizations worldwide to determine how mature their software development process is—or how well they've established standards and guidelines for their employees' workflows and procedures. For an organization to receive certification from SEI under this program, it must meet specific criteria that are outlined in detail by SEI staff members who analyze performance records submitted by participating companies every year before issuing their final report card rating (which can either be "low," "medium," or "high" based on how well each company has performed). You can use CMMI to pinpoint areas where your company is performing well and where it needs some attention. Investing in the proper places can help you determine which areas are risky and which are not. Process management enables you to set targets for process improvements, prioritise those improvements, and provide quality process assistance. CMMI makes it simple to connect traditionally discrete organisational departments, such as IT and HR, to see how they fit together as a whole.