Challenges in Implementing CMMI High Maturity: Lessons Learned and Recommendations

Summary: [This abstract is based on the authors' abstract.] Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) allows organizations to improve the quality of their products and customer satisfaction; reduce cost, schedule, and rework; and make their processes more predictable. However, this is not always the case, as there are differences in performance among CMMI organizations, depending not only on the context of the business, projects, and team, but also on the methodologies used in the implementation of the model practices. To better understand the difficulties of implementing CMMI, the authors conducted research on the challenges organizations face when implementing CMMI. They did a literature review, analyzed the data of an SEI survey of organizations being appraised at high maturity levels, and conducted three case studies from organizations previously appraised at CMMI maturity level 5. Empirical evidence shows that the identified problems are common to the different sources of information. To prevent such problems in the future, the authors mapped the challenges the organizations faced with a set of proven recommendations in a checklist to be used by organizations when implementing or improving CMMI practices.