Resolving Different Approaches of CMMs

The definition of a capability maturity model allows the community to develop models having different approaches. As long as a model contains the essential elements of effective processes for one or more disciplines and describes an evolutionary improvement path from ad hoc, immature processes to disciplined, mature processes with improved quality and effectiveness, it is considered a CMM.

All of the source models for CMMI are considered capability maturity models; however, each has a different approach. Review and examination of each source model led to the discovery of two types of approaches to presenting capability maturity models. These types of approaches have been given the label “representations” in the process improvement community. A representation reflects the organization, use, and presentation of components in a model.