As organizations across Europe accelerate their adoption of AI, many are facing increasing pressure to demonstrate how AI governance can be applied responsibly, deployed safely, and aligned with evolving regulatory expectations.
CMMI Institute, a global leader in helping organizations improve performance, develop capabilities and reduce risks, is making available to these companies its new CMMI AI Maturity (CMMI AIM) model, designed to drive sustainable innovation and measurable business performance results through the adoption of AI.
CMMI AIM builds on CMMI’s globally recognized, results-driven approach to improving performance, incorporating specific AI guidance. It provides a single, integrated approach to governing AI capabilities and adoption, enabling organizations to move from fragmented AI initiatives to measurable, scalable, consistently governed, and integrated organizational capability and performance, with a clear return on investment.
This launch comes as organizations across Europe navigate an increasingly complex landscape, marked by the EU AI Law, NIS2, the Digital Operational Resilience Regulation (DORA) and rising expectations around digital trust, organizational resilience and responsible AI.
Generate measurable value
CMMI AIM offers several specific outcomes for organizations, regulators, and governing bodies that use it, including:
· Visibility into AI maturity level across teams and functions
· Improved decision making to prioritize AI investments
· Standardized AI practices across teams and domains
· Clear roadmap to improve maturity
· Ability to measure progress and return on investment over time
· Demonstration of AI governance and organizational capacity in the face of evolving regulatory and governance frameworks
“For almost every organization, AI is a priority, but far fewer demonstrate that they manage it with true discipline, and even fewer achieve consistent performance innovation. Closing that gap is what unlocks the true return on investment in AI,” said Ron Lear, vice president of Global Strategies at CMMI.
He continues: “That is the gap that CMMI AIM is designed to help close. “CMMI AIM provides a structured, evidence-based approach that enables organizations to continually measure, improve and reinforce their AI capability and maturity, while facilitating sustainable innovation and balancing governance and risk.”
Apply an AI perspective to content and areas
As a significant extension of the CMMI Model, CMMI AIM incorporates AI-related content across all 31 CMMI Practice Areas, with nearly 50% of practices including input specific to the AI context. It also incorporates a new benchmarking perspective through CMMI AIM, focused on eight integrated domains:
· Data: Robust infrastructure and governance for data management, from traceability to data quality
· Development: Design of high-quality AI solutions aligned with customer needs
· People: Preparing the workforce to adopt AI effectively
· Security and reliability: Mitigation of the severity and probability of AI-related harm
· Cybersecurity: Safe use of AI platforms and tools to reinforce the trust of stakeholders
· Services: Providing superior quality of service to customers across AI-enabled service models
· Suppliers: Creating an effective AI collaboration ecosystem with suppliers
· Virtual environment: Robust infrastructure for effective virtual AI collaboration
CMMI AIM is also supported by a full set of model resources, including the new CMMI Model Viewer Plus, which includes the CMMI AIM model and CMMI AIM Crosswalks mappings; the CMMI AIM Appraisal; and CMMI AIM Practitioner and CMMI AIM Lead Appraiser certifications, along with associated training. This includes the Building Artificial Intelligence Maturity (BAIM) and Appraising Artificial Intelligence Maturity (AAIM) courses.
A foundation supported by global experience and knowledge
This new AI-related content was developed by the CMMI AI Working Group, comprised of more than 25 industry experts from around the world, including managers, professionals, trainers, lead testers and specialists in different subjects and sectors, with IBM Consulting as a sponsor. Additionally, 100 companies provided feedback through structured community and internal reviews during the development period.
The launch builds on ISACA’s broader work to support governments, regulators and organizations on AI governance.
Additionally, IBM Consulting, along with Infosys Limited and Government Technical Services Corporation (GTSC), were evaluated as part of a CMMI AIM pilot program. Other organizations that led and participated in the pilot program evaluations, provided training and provided expertise included representatives from Benchmarked Pty Ltd, CommandTec and KPMG Assurance and Consulting Services LLP.
The launch builds on ISACA’s broader work to support governments, regulators and organizations on AI governance, cybersecurity, workforce development and digital trust. Through collaborations with European institutions, governments, sector associations and strategic partners, ISACA continues to help organizations strengthen digital resilience, the capabilities of their professionals and the responsible adoption of AI.
“Europe is at an AI inflection point: it is building AI factories, supporting startups and investing to boost the European economy,” said Chris Dimitriadis, Global Chief Strategy Officer at ISACA. “CMMI AIM offers a practical framework to help organizations operationalize sustainable innovation through AI, planning, implementing and continuously measuring its maturity to maximize return on investment and ensure stakeholder trust.”
