The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a development model that was created in 1986 after a study of data collected from organizations that contracted with the U.S. Department of Defense, who funded the research . The model aims to improve existing software development processes by assessing the ability of government contractors’ processes to implement a contracted software project . The CMM consists of five distinct stages of maturity: start-up, formative, established, strategic, and dynamic . The model’s aim is to improve existing software development processes, but it can also be applied to other processes . The Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement defines the appraisal process as consisting of preparation; on-site activities; preliminary observations, findings, and ratings; final reporting; and follow-on activities . There are two approaches to process improvement in CMMI: continuous representation and staged representation .