The UK & Ireland Testing Board recognise the importance of continuous improvement in testing processes and, as such, support the Test Maturity Model integration (TMMi) as an independent guideline and reference framework for test process improvement.

Due to the limited attention given to testing in the various software process improvement models such as CMMI, TMMi was developed by the TMMi Foundation. It is positioned as complementary to  CMMI and, just like the CMMI staged representation, TMMi uses the concept of maturity levels for process evaluation and improvement.

TMMi is the test improvement and maturity model used by organisations to compare their maturity against. This may result in a plan for meeting the desired maturity level rating. Implementing the recommendation of the assessment enables organisations to derive many benefits and advantages, particularly around reducing risk, cost and time whilst improving the quality of software which meets the needs of the business.

The model looks at software quality management and testing at maturity levels (see picture below), with the starting assumption that all organisations start at level 1 of the maturity ladder. The more mature an organisation’s practices the higher level of maturity the organisation fulfils.