The Capability Maturity Model Integration, or CMMI, in short, is now widely regarded as the benchmark for quality when it comes to software development processes around the world. There’s also a growing value for streamlined process management frameworks like CMMI in Bangladesh.
It goes without saying how crucial it is to follow a standard set of guidelines and principles while managing any software development project to ensure its success.
These days, solution seekers are extremely aware of all the potential risks that might be involved in a software development project. Now, due to the advent of internationally acknowledged standardization processes and frameworks, enterprises can now choose vendors more wisely, understanding the software provider’s development processes and available certifications.
This has made life easier for businesses to enter into contracts with a relative feeling of safety and assurance about timely delivery, expected quality and other aspects of a successful project.
To better understand the need for such a framework, we need to dive deep into the history of it. The demand for software development originated in the early 1960s in the nascent years of Computer Information Systems. The industry was growing rapidly with every passing year.
Even though a lot of software providers started to spring up over time, there still remained a lack of quality. Very few projects saw the light of day as project failure started becoming the norm.
This brought about the urgent need for standardized project management and development guidelines.
In the 1980’s, several US Military projects involving software got stuck and started leaking money, which prompted the United States Military to fund a study at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) to find out the actual cause of such mishaps.
Through years of research and study, the original CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) model got published at the beginning of the millennium.
In simple terms, The Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is a process and behavioral model that assists organizations restructure process improvement and inspire productive, efficient behaviors. This, in turn, significantly mitigates the risks in software, product and service development.
CMMI certification is currently required by a growing number of government contracts. Private corporations and enterprises also have to be aware of the importance of getting into contracts with companies that follow the CMMI guidelines and processes and adhere to the standards.
CMMI helps to ensure that the best practices of a company and industry are not only adopted once but also practised over the long term.
Okay, so what exactly are the Maturity Levels?
Within these three Constellations, CMMI assigns one of five maturity levels, describing how effective that Constellation is working within the company. The following five maturity levels apply to Acquisition and Services:
In the Development Constellation, the second Maturity Level is defined as Repeatable, meaning that the process is something that could be duplicated if necessary. All other Maturity Levels are the same as they are in Acquisition and Services.
The bottom line is, superior quality of products and service should be the top priority for any software company along with constant improvement of processes
Accreditation and certifications like ISO and CMMI make it easier for businesses and enterprises to make the right choice when looking for software solutions. For instance, the higher the CMMI level of a company, the more convenient it will be to work with them.
Some of the most common reasons for which smart businesses are looking for CMMI 5 rated companies include:
Low Failure Rate: Failure rate reduces to zero when there is a high priority set for quality and standards within the organization. Generally speaking, 100% project success is a rarity in the software development world and to be fully safe and assured, businesses are opting for software vendors with high CMMI certifications albeit sometimes it might be costing more. Because after all, quality can’t be bought cheap.
Better understanding of Requirements: With better experts comes better analysis. Understanding client requirements is key to delivering a flawless project on time. Once a standard BRS (Business Requirement Specification) document is locked in and signed by both the parties, the Business Analysis team can then handover the project to the development team.
Timely Delivery: Following a solid project timeline is crucial at the same time harder said than done. Having said that, for a highly accredited CMMI company, it is absolutely vital to adhere to the timeline agreed at the beginning of the project and to ensure that all the deliverables are met within the stipulated time period.
Expected Quality: Quality is one thing that is never compromised by smart software companies. This is what sets them apart from the rest and so it is something that the top-rated companies has to bear in mind always. Client satisfaction comes first before anything else.
Less Bugs and Errors: A software bug is an error or flaw in a computer program that causes it to produce an incorrect/unexpected result. Software bugs are a common phenomenon when developing computer programs but that is what the QA/Testing department is there for. Proper software quality assurance ensures that there is always less or no bugs when a software version is being released.
Superior Support Service: Delivering a successful project is not the end of the road for any solution provider with a good quality rating. Usually, both parties get into well documented and specified SLAs (Service-level Agreement) that ensures that the client gets the support it needs from the vendor and that too, on time.
The components covered by a standard SLA include – Type of service to be provided; the service’s desired performance level, especially its reliability and responsiveness; Monitoring process and service level reporting; the steps for reporting issues with the service; Response and issue resolution time-frame and Repercussions for service provider not meeting its commitment.
Organizational Credibility & Trustworthiness: Finally, when taking on large projects, businesses are often skeptical about going into contracts with local vendors in Bangladesh. Lack of trust and lack of credibility are to blame here as companies are tempted to look outside the country for their software needs overlooking imminent support issues and of course, the price.
CMMI in Bangladesh is defining how software projects need to be implemented in the country. A CMMI Level 5 certification is something that establishes a company’s reputation as a credible one in the market. Bangladesh is developing fast in the IT and software development sector and companies are now seriously considering process improvements and sticking to established international standards.
A huge number of noteworthy developments have already been undertaken and successfully implemented in Bangladesh throughout the last decade and the local solution providers are at the forefront of this evolution.
To sum up, CMMI in Bangladesh is placed on a much more precise hierarchy than most other process improvement standards and by now, it is needless to mention that it is definitely one of the prerequisites for software companies to follow the CMMI standards meticulously, for it defines the integrity and capability of the company itself.
Southtech is the largest CMMI Level 5 software company in Bangladesh
The company has been the torchbearer of excellent quality management and CMMI in Bangladesh. We’ve been in business since 1996. Since then, Southtech has contributed hugely to the Government’s vision of Digital Bangladesh and is regarded as one of the largest exporters of software solutions in the country. Southtech operates in 5 countries presently – Bangladesh, USA, UK, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
To know more about us and what we do, please get in touch!
