The current competitive world requires that a business should consistently seek to enhance its processes in order to remain competitive. A CMMI appraisal is one of the proven methods of attaining this. CMMI or Capability Maturity Model Integration is a world-known model that is based on assisting organizations to enhance the performance, efficiency, and quality. The CMMI appraisal is an appraisal process that is used to determine how well your company practices are aligned to this framework.

In plain words, a CMMI appraisal can assist businesses in knowing what is good and what is not. It is a health check up of your organizational processes. In the process of the appraisal, your workflows, documentation and practices are reviewed by certified experts who assess their maturity and efficacy. Depending on the results, your organization is given a maturity level, Level 1 (Initial) all the way to Level 5 (Optimizing).

This is the reason a CMMI appraisal is significant to your business:

• Enhanced Productivity - The appraisal reveals the loopholes and inefficiencies within your processes to enable you to streamline operations and minimise wastage.
• Improved Quality - Clear guidelines can ensure that you can provide better quality products and services on a regular basis.
• Customer Confidence - A large number of customers and government agencies would choose to do business with organizations that have an established CMMI level since it demonstrates dependability and a well-managed process.
• Competitive Advantage - Higher maturity level will make your company stand out of the others, the bigger the projects and markets will become open.

The planning of a CMMI appraisal is a team activity and a commitment. It is not merely the attainment of a certificate but it is the creation of a culture of continual enhancement. Some of the best practices that organizations usually begin with are the documentation of their processes, training of their teams and the implementation of best practices. The process of appraisal itself involves interviews, reviewing evidence and analysis through certified lead appraisers.

CMMI appraisals are of two types, the most formal being Class A that yields a maturity.