The organization selects process areas and capability levels based on its process improvement objectives.

The organization selects process areas based on the maturity levels.

Improvement is measured using capability levels. Capability levels

·   Measure maturity of a particular process across an organization.

·   Range from 0 through 5.

Improvement is measured using maturity levels. Maturity levels

·   Measure maturity of a set of processes across an organization.

·   Range from 1 through 5.

Capability level profiles are used to target and track process improvement performance.

Maturity levels are used to target and track process improvement performance.

Equivalent staging allows an organization using the continuous approach to process improvement to derive a maturity level as part of an appraisal.

There is no need for an equivalence mechanism back to the continuous approach.