Maturity Models in IS Research

Notwithstanding the relevance of maturity assessments in practice, Information Systems (IS) research has – despite exceptions – yet rarely endeavoured into reflecting and developing theoretically sound maturity models. This paper reports a literature review on maturity models in the IS domain. Specifically, it explores what type of research on maturity models has been undertaken (retrospection) and which potentially useful measures might be pursued in IS for future research (prospection). The paper suggests that research on maturity models is of growing interest; nevertheless, comparably few related articles have been published in the leading IS journals. We see that the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and its successor CMM Integration (CMMI) dominate studies of maturity. While maturity models have been addressed in prescriptive, descriptive and reflective works, the notions of maturity and maturity models have rarely been conceptualised in detail. In view of that, the paper presents implications for the practice of maturity model application and research thereof

Using a maturity model to move student engagement practices beyond the generational approach

This paper proposes that the generational approach to conceptualising first year student learning behaviour, while it has made a very useful contribution to understanding that behaviour, can be expanded upon. The generational approach has an explicit focus on student behaviour and it is suggested that a capability maturity model interpretation may provide a complementary extension of that as it allows an assessment of institutional capability to initiate, plan, manage and evaluate institutional student engagement practices. The development of a Student Engagement, Success and Retention Maturity Model (SESR-MM) is discussed along with Australasian FYE generational data and Australian SESR-MM data

Online service delivery models : an international comparison in the public sector

Governments around the world are facing the challenge of responding to increased expectations by their customers with regard to public service delivery. Citizens, for example, expect governments to provide better and more efficient electronic services on the Web in an integrated way. Online portals have become the approach of choice in online service delivery to meet these requirements and become more customer-focussed. This study describes and analyses existing variants of online service delivery models based upon an empirical study and provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in government. For this study, we have conducted interviews with senior management representatives from five international governments. Based on our findings, we distinguish three different classes of service delivery models. We describe and characterise each of these models in detail and provide an in-depth discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches

Maturity Models as a Tool for Benefits-Driven Change: A Qualitative Investigation of ten Organisations

If Information Technology (IT) is to deliver change with clear benefits a complex mix of organizational resources (i.e. the IT capability), need to be mobilized. Improving IT capability is essential but often challenging for organizations. Maturity models are used to assist change management for IT capability improvement, but there has been limited research on how they are used and their efficacy in different organizational contexts. This paper addresses this gap through exploring the experiences of ten organizations who used the IT Capability Maturity Framework (IT-CMF), to help them address the challenge of gaining benefits from IT. Key topics are: motivations for using a maturity model; change management actions and improvements; success factors; barriers to success. The data was collected through qualitative interviews and interpreted through a benefits-driven change management approach. This analysis provides key insights into the context and challenges of using maturity models for IT capability improvements, and suggests that capability improvement will to some extent address the ‘knowing-doing gap’ highlighted with respect to maturity model implementation

WHOSE MATURITY IS IT ANYWAY? THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT QUANTITATIVE METHODS ON THE DESIGN AND ASSESSMENT OF MATURITY MODELS

This paper presents results from an ongoing empirical study that seeks to understand the influence of different quantitative methods on the design and assessment of maturity models. Although there have been many academic publications on maturity models, there exists a significant lack of understanding of the potential impact of (a) choice of the quantitative approach, and (b) scale of measurement on the design and assessment of the maturity model. To address these two methodological issues, we analysed a social media maturity data set and computed maturity scores using different quantitative methods prescribed in literature. Specifically, we employed five methods (Additive, Variance, Cluster, Minimum Constraint, and RASCH) and compared the sensitivity of measurement scale and maturity stages. Based on our results, we propose a set of methodological recommendations for maturity model designers

A Set Theoretical Approach to Maturity Models: Guidelines and Demonstration

Maturity Model research in IS has been criticized for the lack of theoretical grounding, methodological rigor, empirical validations, and ignorance of multiple and non-linear paths to maturity. To address these criticisms, this paper proposes a novel set-theoretical approach to maturity models characterized by equifinality, multiple conjunctural causation, and case diversity. We prescribe methodological guidelines consisting of a six-step procedure to systematically apply set theoretic methods to conceptualize, develop, and empirically derive maturity models and provide a demonstration of it application on a social media maturity data-set. Specifically, we employ Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to identify maturity stage boundaries as necessary conditions and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to arrive at multiple configurations that can be equally effective in progressing to higher maturity

Maturity Models Architecture: A large systematic mapping

Maturity models are widespread in research and in particular, IT practitioner communities. However, theoretically sound, methodologically rigorous and empirically validated maturity models are quite rare.  This systematic mapping paper focuses on the challenges faced during the development of maturity models. More specifically, it explores the literature on maturity models and standard guidelines to develop maturity models, the challenges identified and solutions proposed.  Our systematic mapping  revealed over six hundred articles on maturity models. Extant literature reveals that researchers have primarily focused on developing new maturity models pertaining to domain-specific problems and/or new enterprise technologies. We find rampant re-use of the design structure of widely adopted models such as Nolan’s Stage of Growth Model, Crosby’s Grid, and Capability Maturity Model (CMM). We also identify three dominant views of maturity models and provide guidelines for various approaches to constructing maturity models with a standard vocabulary. We finally propose using process theories and configurational approaches to address the main theoretical criticisms with regard to maturity models and conclude with some recommendations for maturity model developers

Company Maturity Models: Application to Supplier Development Program in Oil and Gas Sector

Purpose: In order to achieve excellence, outsourced maintenance contractors in Oil&Gas sector play a key role due to the important impact of their task on security, availability and energy consumption. This paper presents the process followed in order to implement a Supplier Development Program in a refinery using Company Maturity Model (CoMM) and the results obtained in three cases validating the method to obtain a strategic improvement project medium term grid. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology followed consists of constructing a CoMM capturing the knowledge existing in the refinery and applying it with three supplier improvement teams. Findings and conclusions have arised through an observation of the three processes and extracting common conclusions. Findings: The resulting CoMM has been used for self-assessment by three suppliers and has demonstrated its potential to define a medium-term improvement project road map validated by the customer. Furthermore, during the design and application processes, the contribution of CoMMs to the SECI process of knowledge management has been observed. Practical implications: The use of CoMMs in a service contractor context can be applied in other sectors. It contributes to alignment of targets between the supplier and customer companies and to knowledge sharing inside both firms. Originality/value: Maturity models in many transversal fields (CMMI, EFQM, BPMM, PEMM, etc.) have been thoroughly studied in the literature. Less effort has been made analysing the case of using maturity models constructed and implemented by a company for its specific purposes. In this paper, the process followed by a company to establish a Supplier Development Process using CoMMs is described

Development of an integrated BIM and lean maturity model

The level of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Lean adoption has been rapidly increased. The benefits of integrating these two approaches have also been identified. However, to achieve the maximum benefits of the interaction of these two approaches, there needs to be assessment tools to analyse their performances collectively. Because understanding and analysing the performances of these approaches would provide value to the entire project in terms of lessons learned, more value generation, and continuous improvements. Therefore, this paper aims to propose an integrated BIM and Lean Maturity Model based on reviewing the literature around current maturity models. This paper proposes an Integrated BIM and Lean Maturity Model named “IDEAL” which could serve as a basis in terms of assessing the performances of the projects implementing BIM and Lean together