Maturing XP through the CMM

Abstract

Extreme Programming (XP) and the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) are two recently emerging models addressing the difficulty of developing and delivering high-quality software products. The CMM gives guidelines for what to do at an organizational level, while XP says how to develop software at a project level. Together these models form a comprehensive framework for structuring the software development organization. Drawing from previous software engineering knowledge as well as personal experiences of coaching XP teams this paper gives practical suggestions for how to combine the two models. The paper shows that it is not only possible, but also advantageous to use XP as a springboard for reaching the highest CMM maturity level and assuring the long-term goals of the software development organization. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.