A systematic survey of CMM experience and results
James D. Herbsleb, Dennis R. Goldenson · 1996
The capability maturity model * (CMM) for sojlware has become very influential as a basis for software process improvement (SPI). Most of the evidence to date showing the results of these efforts has consisted of case studies. We present a systematic survey of organizations that have undertaken CMM-based SPI to get more representative results. Wefound evidence that process maturity is in fact associated with better organizational pe~ormance, and that software process appraisals are viewed, in retrospect, as extremely valuable and accurate guides for the improvement effort. The path was not always smooth, however, and e~orts generally took longer and cost more than expected. A number of factors that distinguished highly successful from unsuccessful efforts are identified. Most of these factors are under management control, suggesting that a number of specijic management decisions are likely to have a major impact on the success of the effort.