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3.3.5 Maturity assessments
A comprehensive methodology for measuring and managing the performance
in a specific field are maturity assessments. They offer a framework to firstly assess the
effectiveness and efficiency of those organisational units with a special focus on the
alignment with the overall strategy and to secondly to contribute to the active management
by developing measures to improve the alignment and the effectiveness and efficiency.
Measuring processes on the basis of maturity levels has its origins in quality
management [18], but assessing the maturity level of a process is a next development
step. In terms of the functional difference, quality systems and maturity models can be
distinguished. Both define requirements for evaluated units to meet, but maturity models
do not require specified performance levels. Moreover, they assess the performance by means
of benchmarking: based on a comparison with the best known way to perform a process, a
classification of the maturity on a defined maturity-scale is set. In summary, maturity models
are made to describe, assess and compare the quality of different examined objects [43].
Historically there were many maturity models developed after Philip Crosby’s
Quality Maturity Grid from 1979, which is widely regarded as the first real attempt
in this direction [18]. The probably best known maturity assessment model today is
the capability maturity model integrated (CMMI), developed at Carnegie Mellon
University. It provides a general structure of the maturity levels (initial, managed,
defined, quantitatively managed and continuously optimising). In terms of the covered
content, it is available in different derivatives for various topics, including development,
acquisition, services and human resources. CMMI also has its own assessment process,
the standard CMMI appraisal method for process improvement (SCAMPI). This
describes the processual dimension of the assessment. In that sense it is important
to distinguish between assessments and audits. According to ISO/IEC JETC1/SC7,
assessments measure effectiveness of a process, whereas audits only check the compliance
with standards [53]. Also, it can be seen that CMMI is more than a sole maturity
model. Maturity assessment models also include an assessment process or method, like
SCAMPI, and therefore go much further than generic maturity models.
Therefore, an integrative maturity assessment model that is able to describe and
measure the effectiveness of a defined function has to cover the aspects structure, content
and method of the assessment process [36]. Figure 3.14 shows this graphically.
Figure 3.14 Elements of maturity assessment models