A METAMODEL FOR THE CAPABILITY MATURITY MODEL FOR SOFTWARE

Abstract

This document presents a metamodel for the "Capability Maturity Model for Software".This Metamodel embodies seven fundamental concepts (common types), which are neither new nor unique to the SW-CMM and which occur across all key process areas in the same relationship to each other.It can be (and has been) used to build a model for each of the 18 key process areas in the SW-CMM and an idealized model for the entire SW-CMM.It represents an orthogonal view of the SW-CMM and can be used to define the fundamental skills an organization must instantiate across all 18 key process areas. The Software Engineering Institute's (SEI) Capability Maturity Model (SW-CMM)The "Capability Maturity Model for Software" (SW-CMM) describes five levels of maturity through which an organization can progress to define, assess, and improve their software processes.The five levels are Initial, Repeatable, Defined, Managed, and Optimized.Each level of maturity (except level one) comprises several key process areas (eighteen across all maturity levels) that must be addressed to establish and subsequently demonstrate capability at that maturity level.Organizations are certified at a maturity level by participating in a CBA-IPI assessment (CMM SM -Based Appraisal for Internal Process Improvement) conducted by SEI authorized Lead Assessors.The SW-CMM is documented in two SEI technical reports ("Capability Maturity Model for Software, Version 1.1" and "Key Practices of the Capability Maturity Model, Version 1.1").Combined, the documents exceed 500 pages and contain only a handful of graphics.Their actual and perceived complexity is high.This makes it difficult to both understand and apply the model in practical business settings.