A Maturity Model is a structured framework that defines evolutionary stages of organizational capability development across specified dimensions. It provides standardized criteria for assessing current maturity levels, establishing improvement targets, and creating developmental roadmaps for systematic capability advancement.
Maturity Models bring rigor to capability development by decomposing complex practices into discrete, measurable components with clear progression paths. In architecture domains, these models typically span dimensions such as governance structures, stakeholder engagement, business alignment, modeling practices, standards compliance, and tool utilization. Each dimension contains specific criteria that distinguish different maturity levels, creating objective benchmarks for assessment and improvement planning.
The evolution of Maturity Models has moved beyond the original Capability Maturity Model (CMM) to include specialized frameworks for enterprise architecture (EAMM), data management (DMBOK), cloud adoption (CAMM), and other architectural domains. Contemporary models emphasize value delivery rather than process compliance, recognizing that appropriate maturity levels should align with business objectives rather than pursuing maximum maturity indiscriminately. Leading organizations apply Maturity Models selectively, prioritizing dimensions most critical to their strategic objectives while maintaining minimum viable maturity in others. When integrated with broader governance frameworks, Maturity Models provide structured progression paths that balance aspiration with pragmatism, helping organizations systematically elevate their architectural capabilities while delivering continuous business value through each maturity stage.
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