Many organizations find value in measuring their progress by conducting an appraisal and thus earning a maturity level rating or a capability level achievement profile. These appraisals are typically conducted for one or more of the following reasons:

·   To determine how well the organization’s processes compare to CMMI best practices and identify areas where improvement can be made

·   To inform external customers and suppliers about how well the organization’s processes compare to CMMI best practices

·   To meet the contract requirements of one or more customers

Appraisals of organizations using a CMMI model must conform to the requirements defined in the Appraisal Requirements for CMMI (ARC) document. These appraisals focus on identifying improvement opportunities and comparing the organization’s processes to CMMI best practices. Appraisal teams use a CMMI model and ARC-conformant appraisal method to guide their evaluation of the organization as well as how they report their conclusions. The appraisal results are then used (by a process group, for example) to plan improvements for the organization.