Model guide

CMMI V3.0: what changed

V3.0 is the current version of the CMMI model, maintained by the CMMI Institute (part of ISACA). It reorganized the model around business value and extended it into new domains.

What's new in V3.0

  • Business-value framing. V3.0 ties practices to business outcomes more explicitly than V2.0 did — appraisals examine whether practices serve performance, not just whether they exist.
  • New domains. The model now spans Development (DEV), Services (SVC), Data (DATA), People (PPL), Safety (SAF), Security (SEC), Supplier Management (SPM), and Virtual work (VRT) — reflected in the current Lead Appraiser authorizations published in the CMMI Institute partner directory.
  • Updated training & credentials. Instructor and Lead Appraiser certifications track V3.0 domains (e.g., Certified Instructor V3.0 DEV, V3.0 SVC).

Does V3.0 change my appraisal plan?

Mostly no. Maturity Levels still run ML1–ML5, appraisals are still Benchmark/Class A, B, and C, and ratings still publish through the CMMI Institute. What changes is which practice areas your appraisal covers — confirm with your Lead Appraiser that your preparation targets V3.0 practice areas for your domains, not a stale V2.0 checklist.

Watch out for stale materials. The web is full of V1.3/V2.0-era CMMI advice (SCAMPI branding, old practice-area lists). If a consultant's templates reference SCAMPI instead of the current appraisal method names, ask when their materials were last updated.

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