By Misha Kalhin, Senior Project Manager
In a word – No. First of all, CMMI certification is a misnomer. There’s just no such thing. You can get a CMMI appraisal, you can be rated by a licensed CMMI Institute partner, but you won’t be certified, because the term “certified†has legal implications. Contrary to what some might think, CMMI is not an engineering standard; it is a framework for process improvement. So if you are considering CMMI for its nominal value, a pre-requisite, or a necessary evil that will help your business by making it appear more credible, without really planning to implement real changes in your organization, you might be doomed from the start.
When companies embark on a CMMI audit for the wrong reasons it’s a painful and frustrating process that produces bitter rumors such as: CMMI deters clients, CMMI-rated companies take longer to set up the project and that CMMI is incompatible with Agile. But if the rumors are true, why are more and more companies get appraised every year? The truth is that when done correctly, integration of capability maturity models helps companies meet their business goals through process improvement.
Can CMMI actually hurt your business? If you plan to simply add a layer of CMMI on top of your current processes, then, unfortunately the answer is yes. If you are not satisfied with your current process, you probably won’t make it better by making it needlessly complex and confusing. However, if CMMI is implemented properly, you may find that your processes will actually become simpler and leaner.
Is CMMI right for you?
Is your organization successful at achieving your goals? Do your engagements run as smoothly and efficiently as you would like? If your company is missing certain processes, making daily operations a nightmare, then you  should probably consider CMMI. If you are not satisfied with your project success, customer satisfaction, profitability or efficiency, and you’re certain that it is a process issue (not marketing, for example), then CMMI is probably right for you.
CMMI constellations do not contain prescribed methods on how to develop a software solution. CMMI is also not about following dubious guidelines to get something off the checklist. It’s about providing visibility into the process, making sure the requirements match the finish product, improving efficiency and predictability. CMMI helps IT organizations align their business goals with engineering tasks, by setting up a framework for continuous improvement. Continuous improvement…yes, one of the most important principles of Agile also happens to be the most important principle of CMMI.
If you are considering get a CMMI appraisal, make sure you are ready to implement real changes within your organization, which might take a lot of effort, but, if done correctly, will be a rewarding experience, which will result in leaner processes, smoother operations and higher efficiency of your organization.
Dextrys – Exceptional Delivery
Dextrys is a US-based software company that provides Web, Mobile, Desktop, and Testing solutions to clients worldwide. Our processes are CMMI complient and ensure stable delivery, consistent quality and greater client satisfaction. To know more about Dextrys and the services we offer please visit http://www.dextrys.com
