If you are new to CMMI but have experience with other process improvement models, such as the Software CMM (version 1.1) or the Systems Engineering Capability Model (i.e., EIA 731), you will immediately recognize many similarities [EIA 1998].

We recommend that you read Part One to understand how CMMI is different from other process improvement models, but you may want to read some of the sections more quickly than others. Read Part Two with an eye open for best practices you recognize from the models you have already tried. Identifying familiar material gives you a feel for what is new and what has been carried over from the model you already know.

Next, review the glossary to understand how some terminology may differ from that used in the process improvement model you know. Many concepts will be repeated, but they may be called something different.