The impact of software capability maturity model on knowledge management and organisational learning: empirical findings and useful insights

This paper, using qualitative and quantitative data relative to the software process improvement initiative in which the Italian branch of a multinational software company was engaged from January 1997 to May 2001, investigates the impact of Capability Maturity Model (CMM) certification on organisational learning. A knowledge management perspective is adopted to explain the software development process increase in productivity. Data suggest that CMM can effectively support and address knowledge management and learning within a software organisation. Disciplined methods and practices are expected to result in better control over the software development process and organisations using a well-structured process model such as the CMM can use the process infrastructure it provides for organisational learning. © 2006 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.