While using Maturity Models created by others can be very helpful, I like to help my clients learn how to create custom maturity models of their own. In this post I’ll walk you through the first step of creating your own custom maturity model in three easy steps.
Understanding the main principles and uses of maturity models is a good first step. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read my brief post on this topic, Maturity Modeling 101: What All Maturity Models Have In Common, please do so now and you’ll find this post easier to implement if you do.
STEP 1 – Define the Levels
The first step in creating your own custom maturity model is to define the levels. You’ll remember from Maturity Model 101 I identified the levels of maturity as one of the main architectural elements of a maturity model. You might also remember that one of the purposes of a maturity model is to show an increasing level of sophistication or maturity on a continuum. We’ll break this continuum up into stages or levels.
The simplest form might only have 3 levels, while the most complex is limited to 5 levels. For our purposes we’ll use a 3-level model in our example of a job ladder. Level 1 is our entry-level associate position, Level 2 is our mid-range position, and Level 3 is our senior position. (See example below).
Now think about the area you are defining and divide it up into 3-5 levels of maturity, giving each a descriptive name. Congratulations! You’ve just completed your first step in creating your own custom maturity model.
Related Posts:
Adding Maturity Modeling To Your Visual Communications Toolkit
Maturity Modeling 101: What All Maturity Models Have In Common