Capability Maturity Model Integration is a way to deliver products better, faster, and cheaper

There are two basic CMMI type: staged and continuous. Staged CMMI is the better known, with its five levels of maturity. Continuous representation of CMMI lets an organization select specific improvements that best meet its business. Both staged and continuous CMMI representations are designed to provide equivalent results.

CMMI staged representation

In a CMMI staged representation there are five levels of maturity.
Initial. At this level process unpredictable, poorly controlled and reactive.
Managed. At this level process characterized for project and is often reactive.
Defined. Process characterized for organization and is proactive.
Quantitatively managed. At this level process measured and controlled.
Optimizing. Focus on continuous process improvement.

CMMI continuous representation

In a CMMI continuous representation there are six capability levels.
Incomplete. Process not performed or partially performed.
Performed. Process satisfies all of the specific goals of the process area.
Managed. Process is performed process that is also planed and controlled.
Defined. Process is characterized as a defined process.
Quantitatively Managed. A quantitatively managed process is a defined process that is controlled using statistical and other quantitative techniques.
Optimizing. An optimizing process is a quantitatively managed process that is adapted to meet current and projected business objectives.

Process areas

All CMMI process areas are common to both continuous and staged representations. Process areas can be grouped into four categories:
• Project management. Project management includes the activities related to planning, deploying, monitoring, controlling and measuring processes in each project.
• Process management. Process management include the activities related to defining, planning, deploying, implementing, monitoring, controlling, measuring, and improving processes in organization.
• Engineering. Engineering process area covers the activities related to system and software engineering.
• Support. Support process areas cover the activities that support product development and maintenance.