The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a framework for software process improvement composed of 5 levels of process maturity. It was developed by the Software Engineering Institute to help organizations improve their software development process. The CMM describes key process areas that must be addressed to achieve each increasing level of process maturity, from initial/ad hoc processes at level 1 to optimized processes at level 5. Achieving higher levels involves more defined, measured, controlled, and continuously improving processes. While implementation takes significant time and effort, following the CMM helps organizations establish a foundation for consistent, predictable processes that improve quality.