Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Initial Results
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-94-TR-013Abstract
Data from 13 organizations were collected and analyzed to obtain information on the results of CMM-based software process improvement efforts. We report the cost and business value of improvement efforts, as well as the yearly improvement in productivity, early defect direction, time to market, and post-release defect reports. Improvement efforts and results in five organizations are reported in more depth in case studies. In addition, technical issues that we confronted as we tried to measure the results of software process improvement are discussed. We end with conclusions about the results of SPI efforts.
Cite This SEI Report
Herbsleb, J., Carleton, A., Rozum, J., Siegel, J., & Zubrow, D. (1994, August 1). Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Initial Results. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-94-TR-013). Retrieved February 8, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/benefits-of-cmm-based-software-process-improvement-initial-results/.
@techreport{herbsleb_1994,
author={Herbsleb, James and Carleton, Anita and Rozum, James and Siegel, Jane and Zubrow, David},
title={Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Initial Results},
month={{Aug},
year={{1994},
number={{CMU/SEI-94-TR-013},
howpublished={Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/benefits-of-cmm-based-software-process-improvement-initial-results/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Feb-8}
}
Herbsleb, James, Anita Carleton, James Rozum, Jane Siegel, and David Zubrow. "Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Initial Results." (CMU/SEI-94-TR-013). Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library. Software Engineering Institute, August 1, 1994. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/benefits-of-cmm-based-software-process-improvement-initial-results/.
J. Herbsleb, A. Carleton, J. Rozum, J. Siegel, and D. Zubrow, "Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Initial Results," Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-94-TR-013, 1-Aug-1994 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/benefits-of-cmm-based-software-process-improvement-initial-results/. [Accessed: 8-Feb-2026].
Herbsleb, James, Anita Carleton, James Rozum, Jane Siegel, and David Zubrow. "Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Initial Results." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-94-TR-013). Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Aug. 1994. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/benefits-of-cmm-based-software-process-improvement-initial-results/. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Herbsleb, James; Carleton, Anita; Rozum, James; Siegel, Jane; & Zubrow, David. Benefits of CMM-Based Software Process Improvement: Initial Results. CMU/SEI-94-TR-013. Software Engineering Institute. 1994. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/benefits-of-cmm-based-software-process-improvement-initial-results/