Towards a Classification of Maturity Models in Information Systems

Over the past years, a wide range of maturity models have been developed by practitioners as well as academics for the purpose of measuring and prescribing certain aspects of information systems "maturity". Since, to our knowledge, no classification system for maturity models exists to date, the rising number of maturity models implicates problems with respect to retrievability and reusability. Aiming at enhancing the time consuming and exhausting search and selection process of appropriate assessment models, a classification approach for IS maturity models is presented in this paper. Based on a broad literature review that yields 117 maturity models which are analysed in detail, the following classification characteristics are proposed: (a) a set of general model attributes that describe basic characteristics (such as the topic addressed by the model, the primary source or the targeted audience), (b) maturity model design attributes (relating to the construction and organisation of the model) and (c) maturity model use attributes (such as application method or tool support)