Capability Maturity Model: A Competitive Edge or Failure? 19 June 2003 Back To Software Focus Area

	As the software industry continues to contract, new revenue opportunities are becoming scarce in most market segments. These common challenges across the technology industry are causing the majority of software vendors to adjust their marketing, sales and product lines to fit into the new demands of the market. Almost every organization that develops software is now aware of the capability maturity model (CMM), and many are now considering or implementing process improvement efforts. Some will achieve the gains they seek, but statistics show that an even larger number will fail (see "The Impact of CMM in Asia/Pacific"). So, what does this mean, what areas of the world are dominating the market, and will CMM evolve? Also, what approaches and best practices can an organization take to use CMM as a competitive advantage? This issue examines and answers these questions. It continues to be our goal to provide salient advice, planning assumptions, predictions, observations and recommendations about the software industry that you, our clients, can incorporate in your planning cycles. Stay tuned for our next Spotlight in which we unfold our research on the current state of the software industry in the postwar era.   Read more		Joanne M. Correia Vice President Gartner Dataquest

			The Impact of CMM in Asia/Pacific 19 June 2003 Steve Bittinger  Rising global competitiveness is encouraging the rapidly growing influence of the capability maturity model in the software industry.

	A Capability Maturity Model Success Story in India 30 May 2003 Partha Iyengar  Global service providers and application development organizations can benefit and learn from the success India has had with the Capability Maturity Model.		CMM Is a Competitive Differentiator in the Software Industry 30 May 2003 Matthew Hotle  Partha Iyengar  Robert Francis Solon Jr.  Steve Bittinger  Attaining Capability Maturity Model certification has become a key differentiator for service providers' application development services. This certification has worldwide implications.
	How to Keep Your CMM Improvement Effort From Failing 30 May 2003 Matthew Hotle  Using the Capability Maturity Model to improve software development processes is a long and difficult journey. Most attempts fail due to lack of effort and planning for the long term; five traits are warning signs.		CMM Provides a Road Map for Process Improvement 18 June 2003 Steve Bittinger  When implementing the Capability Maturity Model (CMM), focus on incremental tactical benefits that help justify the long-term commitment required to achieve higher maturity levels.
	Wipro: Best Practices in CMM-Based Software Delivery 27 May 2003 Partha Iyengar  A successful Indian IT services enterprise with Capability Maturity Model Level 5 status has used an ongoing quality campaign to improve delivery capabilities, boost customer satisfaction and reduce the cost of services.		CMM in Asia/Pacific: Rapidly Changing Competitive Environment 10 June 2003 Rolf Jester  Partha Iyengar  Dion Wiggins  Service providers in Asia/Pacific should work at achieving high levels of Capability Maturity Model Integration assessment and educate the market as means of further stimulating demand for external services.