Adapting CMMI for Acquisition Organizations: A Preliminary Report
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-2006-SR-005DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
10.1184/R1/6571823.v1Topic or Tag
Abstract
CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) is a collection of best practices that helps organizations improve their processes. It was initially developed by a product team from Industry, U.S. government and the Software Engineering Institute for application to process improvement in the development of products and services covering the entire product life cycle from conceptualization through maintenance and disposal. Following the success of CMMI models for development organizations, the need was identified for a CMMI model addressing the acquisition environment. This need was reinforced and gained further attention due to similar needs expressed by General Motors (GM), which acquires information technology (IT) solutions. Aligned with GM's strategy, GM projects or programs develop requirements and design constraints and oversee multiple suppliers that develop IT solutions and then deploy the resulting products and services into one or more of GM's business units. This approach parallels the acquisition processes used in many government organizations.
General Motors, in collaboration with the SEI and with approval of the CMMI Sponsors and Steering Group, sponsored the development of an initial draft CMMI for Acquisition (CMMI-ACQ) constellation, which will lead to a CMMI-based acquisition model formally accepted by both government and industry after piloting of the initial draft CMMI-ACQ has been completed. This draft is based on the CMMI Version 1.2 architecture and framework which incorporates the concept of constellations, which are groupings of components to support a specific model application such as Development (DEV) or Acquisition (ACQ).
Cite This SEI Report
Hofmann, H., Ramani, G., Yedlin, D., & Dodson, K. (2006, June 1). Adapting CMMI for Acquisition Organizations: A Preliminary Report. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2006-SR-005). Retrieved September 17, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571823.v1.
@techreport{hofmann_2006,
author={Hofmann, Hubert and Ramani, Gowri and Yedlin, Deborah and Dodson, Kathryn},
title={Adapting CMMI for Acquisition Organizations: A Preliminary Report},
month={Jun},
year={2006},
number={{CMU/SEI-2006-SR-005},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
doi={10.1184/R1/6571823.v1},
url={https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571823.v1},
note={Accessed: 2026-Sep-17}
}
Hofmann, Hubert, Gowri Ramani, Deborah Yedlin, and Kathryn Dodson. "Adapting CMMI for Acquisition Organizations: A Preliminary Report." (CMU/SEI-2006-SR-005). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, June 1, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571823.v1.
H. Hofmann, G. Ramani, D. Yedlin, and K. Dodson, "Adapting CMMI for Acquisition Organizations: A Preliminary Report," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-2006-SR-005, 1-Jun-2006 [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571823.v1. [Accessed: 17-Sep-2026].
Hofmann, Hubert, Gowri Ramani, Deborah Yedlin, and Kathryn Dodson. "Adapting CMMI for Acquisition Organizations: A Preliminary Report." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2006-SR-005). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Jun. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571823.v1. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.
Hofmann, Hubert; Ramani, Gowri; Yedlin, Deborah; & Dodson, Kathryn. Adapting CMMI for Acquisition Organizations: A Preliminary Report. CMU/SEI-2006-SR-005. Software Engineering Institute. 2006. DOI: 10.1184/R1/6571823.v1. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571823.v1
Please note that current and future CMMI research, training, and information has been transitioned to the CMMI Institute, a wholly owned subsidiary of ISACA.