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Maturity model

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A maturity model is a framework for measuring an organization's maturity, or that of a business function within an organization, with maturity being defined as a measurement of the ability of an organization for continuous improvement in a particular discipline: the higher the maturity, the higher will be the chances that incidents or errors will lead to improvements either in the quality or in the use of the resources of the discipline as implemented by the organization.

Several maturity models make qualitative assessments of people/culture, processes/structures, and objects/technology.

01Main approaches

Two main approaches to implementing maturity models exist:

  • a top-down approach, such as proposed by Becker et al'., where a fixed number of maturity stages or levels is specified first, to which characteristics which align with initial assumptions about how maturity evolves (typically in form of specific assessment items);
  • a bottom-up approach, such as suggested by Lahrmann et al., where distinct characteristics or assessment items are determined first and clustered in a second step into maturity levels to induce a more general view of the different steps of maturity evolution.

02Notable models

Analytics

Cybersecurity

Human resources

Information security management

Information technology

Procurement

Procurement maturity models diagnose an organization's ability to procure goods and services efficiently and cost effectively. Four potential stages are:

  • a reactive or non-strategic stage where goods and services are purchased as needs arise,
  • a stage at which procurement activities are considered and addressed more strategically,
  • an integrated approach where spend is managed in categories with finance, business operations and supply chain management all contributing to a single process, and
  • a stage "where procurement becomes a growth driver" for the whole organisation.

Project management

  • OPM3 (Organisational Project Management Maturity Model)
  • P3M3 (Portfolio, Programme and Project Management Maturity Model)

Quality management

Testing

Universal

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Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article Maturity model, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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