Test Maturity Model (TMM)

The Test Maturity Model (TMM) provides a framework to define the maturity of test management processes in an organization. The model was defined by the Illinois Institute of Technology, and was further developed by the TMMi Foundation and thus became the Test Maturity Model integration (TMMi). The TMMi documentation can be downloaded free of charge from the TMMi Foundation website. (www.tmmi.org/tmmi-documents/)

According to TMMi, there are five distinct states of test maturity of an organization:

1. Initial: At TMMi level 1, testing is a chaotic, undefined process and is often considered a part of debugging. The organization usually does not provide a stable environment to support the processes. Success in these organizations depends on the competence and heroics of the people in the organization and not the use of proven processes. Tests are developed in an ad hoc way after coding is completed.
2. Managed: At TMMi level 2, testing becomes a managed process and is clearly separated from debugging. The process discipline reflected by maturity level 2 helps to ensure that existing practices are retained during times of stress. However, testing is still perceived by many stakeholders as being a project phase that follows coding.
3. Defined: At TMMi level 3, testing is no longer confined to a phase that follows coding. It is fully integrated into the development lifecycle and the associated milestones. Test planning is done at an early project stage, e.g., during the requirements phase. A test organization and a specific test training program exist, and testing is perceived as being a profession.
4. Measured: Achieving the goals of TMMi level 2 and 3 has the benefits of putting into place a technical, managerial, and staffing infrastructure capable of thorough testing and providing support for test process improvement.
   In TMMi level 4 organizations, testing is a thoroughly defined, well-founded and measurable process. Testing is perceived as evaluation; it consists of all life cycle activities concerned with checking products and related work products.
5. Optimization: The achievement of all previous test improvement goals at levels 1 through 4 of TMMi has created an organizational infrastructure for testing that supports a completely defined and measured process.
   At TMMi maturity level 5, an organization is capable of continually improving its processes based on a quantitative understanding of statistically controlled processes. Improving test process performance is carried out through an incremental and innovative process and technological improvements. The testing methods and techniques are optimized and there is a continuous focus on fine tuning and process improvement.

The key requirements of each maturity level are shown in the chart below.

TMMi levels. Source: TMMi Reference Model

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Test Maturity Model (TMM)