What is a key characteristic of CMMI practices regarding their implementation?

CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) practices are designed to guide organizations in refining their processes for improved performance and quality. A key characteristic of these practices is that they articulate the goals and outcomes that organizations should achieve without prescribing the specific methods to attain them. This flexibility allows organizations to tailor their approaches based on their unique contexts, capabilities, and needs.

By stating what to do instead of how to do it, CMMI practices enable teams to adopt various strategies that align with their existing processes while still meeting the overarching objectives defined by the model. This characteristic encourages innovation and adaptability, allowing for diverse implementations that can lead to optimal solutions in practice.

Understanding this distinguishing feature helps organizations appreciate the importance of focusing on end goals rather than rigidly adhering to prescribed methods, which can be limiting. It fosters an environment where continuous improvement and process adaptation are possible, ultimately leading to the desired maturity in process capabilities.