Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Executive Summary of Initial Results
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-94-SR-013DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
10.1184/R1/6572075.v1Abstract
Data from 13 organizations were collected and analyzed to obtain information on the results of software process improvement efforts that were based on the capability maturity model (CMM). We report the cost and business value of improvement efforts, as well as the yearly improvement in productivity, early defect detection, time to market, and post-release defect reports. Case studies of improvement efforts and results in 5 organizations are summarized. We end with conclusions about the results of software process improvement (SPI) efforts.
Cite This SEI Report
Herbsleb, J., Carleton, A., Rozum, J., Siegel, J., & Zubrow, D. (1994, September 1). Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Executive Summary of Initial Results. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-94-SR-013). Retrieved August 10, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572075.v1.
@techreport{herbsleb_1994,
author={Herbsleb, James and Carleton, Anita and Rozum, James and Siegel, Jane and Zubrow, David},
title={Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Executive Summary of Initial Results},
month={Sep},
year={1994},
number={{CMU/SEI-94-SR-013},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
doi={10.1184/R1/6572075.v1},
url={https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572075.v1},
note={Accessed: 2026-Aug-10}
}
Herbsleb, James, Anita Carleton, James Rozum, Jane Siegel, and David Zubrow. "Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Executive Summary of Initial Results." (CMU/SEI-94-SR-013). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, September 1, 1994. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572075.v1.
J. Herbsleb, A. Carleton, J. Rozum, J. Siegel, and D. Zubrow, "Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Executive Summary of Initial Results," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-94-SR-013, 1-Sep-1994 [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572075.v1. [Accessed: 10-Aug-2026].
Herbsleb, James, Anita Carleton, James Rozum, Jane Siegel, and David Zubrow. "Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Executive Summary of Initial Results." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-94-SR-013). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Sep. 1994. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572075.v1. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.
Herbsleb, James; Carleton, Anita; Rozum, James; Siegel, Jane; & Zubrow, David. Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Executive Summary of Initial Results. CMU/SEI-94-SR-013. Software Engineering Institute. 1994. DOI: 10.1184/R1/6572075.v1. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6572075.v1