Abstract

This case study explored the use of the Carnegie Mellon Capability Maturity Model for Software in two organizations. The research also included aspects of successful process improvement efforts that were not explicitly addressed by the SW-CMM, but which were critical to achieving business and process improvement goals. ;To build necessary data mass, base information was accumulated by way of interviews from the field, surveys, and document analysis. Employee satisfaction and process effectiveness through continuous process improvement was studied through the use of pretest and posttest surveys. The researcher sought to answer the following questions: How is SW-CMM used in two selected organizations? How is the process focus emphasized throughout the organization? How is awareness and risk management training implemented? ;The study revealed that, in both organizations, SW-CMM was only marginally understood, accepted, and implemented by the interviewed employee groups. A large proportion of the variance in process improvement within two organizations was accounted for by organization process focus and training programs. The study demonstrates that a culture in which sharing ideas and practices is encouraged and in which ongoing education is supported and rewarded can enable an organization to achieve process maturity faster