Measurement Maturity and the CMM : How Measurement Practices Evolve as Processes Mature CHARLES WEBER AND BETH LAYMAN

Engineering Institute’s Capability Maturity Model for Software® (CMM®) often struggle with the apparent paradigm shift as they transition from levels 2 and 3 to levels 4 and 5. At levels 1 and 2, the measures are primarily status measures (for example, actual values vs. planned values). At level 3 defect measures are added. Then at level 4 there is a drastic change in measurement terminology, using terms such as “process capability baselines” and “process performance baselines.” People often interpret this terminology change to mean that a paradigm shift in the measurement process is needed in moving to level 4. There is confusion about how to make this transition without losing momentum.