CMMI(R): Guidelines for Process Integration and Product Improvement

The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a framework widely used to assess an organization's processes in carrying out specific activities, to guide the implemention of improvements, and to measure progress. There currently are CMM frameworks for software (documented in our CMM book), systems, acquisition, and human resources. The new Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is an attempt by the Department of Defense and a consortium of companies to integrate the CMMs, which often differ in significant ways, into a single coherent model. The CMMI includes two representations -- a staged representation (where organizations can rise from one level to another) and a continuous representation (where there are steady improvements). The market will decide which representation is preferable; this book covers them both with practical examples that allow readers to assess their level of maturity, and most importantly, improve it!