Page 206 - SOFTWARE TESTING & QUALITY ASSURANCE

Unit 14: Maturity Model and Quality Standards

is the certainty of process performance. At maturity level 4, the process performance is managed
using statistical and other quantitative methods, and is conventional in nature.
5. Level 5 – Optimizing: At this level, process management includes deliberate process
optimization/improvement. This level stresses on repeatedly getting better with process
performance through incremental and creative technological improvements. Both the defined
processes and the organization’s set of defined processes are targets of measurable improvement
performance. The effects of organized process improvements are measured and assessed against
the quantitative process-improvement objectives. Quantitative process-improvement objectives
for the organization are recognized, frequently revised to reflect changing business objectives,
and used as criteria in managing process improvement.
At level 5, processes are associated with resolving common causes of process differences and
changing the process (that is, shifting the mean of the process performance) to improve process
performance (while maintaining statistical probability) to achieve the established quantitative
process-improvement objectives. On the other hand, at level 4, developments are associated with
special causes of process variation and providing statistical predictability of the results. Though
processes may produce expected results, the results may be inadequate to attain the recognized
objectives.
Table 14.1 gives an overview of the different maturity levels and the improvements implemented in
each of these levels.
Table 14.1 Capability Maturity Model Process Areas

Maturity Level Improvements Implemented
5. Optimizing Develop change infrastructure
Assess and organize improvements
Remove causes of defects
4. Quantitatively Managed Supervise processes quantitatively
Create capability baselines
3. Defined Create enhancement infrastructure
Identify required software processes
Organize and manage processes
Collect process-level data
Provide organization-wide training
Manage with non-software groups
2. Repeatable Supervise requirements
Plan and track projects
Manage suppliers
Manage product configurations
Measure projects
Assist and assure policy compliance
1. Initial No required processes

Within each of the maturity levels are Key Process Areas (KPA) which explain about that level, and for
each KPA there are five aspects, namely:
1. Goals: Each KPA sets several goals which include the different objectives that help the
organization to climb to the next CMM level.
2. Commitment: There are various requirements that must be met in order to achieve the goals that
are specified.

3. Ability: The abilities define the activities carried out to enable the organization meet the
commitments.
4. Measurement: The activities performed should be monitored, and hence there are methods that
have to be followed to implement the same.

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