Enhancing a Capability Maturity Model for the Smartification of Products
by a Generic Approach and a Third Dimension
Authors: Frings Sandra , Kett Holger , Falkner Jürgen 
Published: February 2023

Since decades, two-dimensional capability as well as maturity model
(CMM) based approaches next to the simpler version of readiness checks are a
common and structured method – within the specific focus subject and its
thematic indicators (1st CMM dimension) – to determine the approximate
current maturity, competence and/or capability level (2nd CMM dimension) of
an organization. Hundreds of CMMs have been developed – all being made up of
indicators to be fulfilled on a certain level – shown in numerous CMM
literature review publications let alone in 2022 (Hoang 2022, Ünal 2022,
Mirihagalla 2022). This indicates the diversity but also relevance and
importance of their application domains of identifying optimization
potentials (SEI 2010, Becker 2009) and delivering a structured way for
transformation and change. Nevertheless, the situation with most academic
two-dimensional CMMs today, is that the models 1) are very general for the
subject at hand; 2) usually do not deliver understandable guidance how to
define which level it needed for the intended change; 3) usually do not
deliver specific measures to reach the next levels; 4) are mostly designed
in such a way, that the user is not able to use them without external
support; and, most importantly for this paper, 5) mix the process, human,
and technology related base capability criteria within the capabilities
necessary for the subject at hand. They are not separated enough which blurs
the assessment result.When developing a new CMM-based method to support SMEs
in the strategic decision process of the currently not very widespread
subject of smartifying products, a well-balanced approach is required which
also takes into account the explicitness and definiteness of the underlying
dimensions as well as an acceptable effort needed for their specification.
Further requirements towards such an approach are already outlined within
our previous work (Frings 2021). For this paper, we focus on the need for
explicitness and introduce a third dimension in our CMM. We separate the
thematic aspects defined within the 11 areas of action within smartification
(Frings 2022) from the cross-sectoral base capabilities grouped into general
process-, human- and technology-oriented criteria – these coming from the
corresponding core components of organizations. For each of the derived base
capabilities which include business process integration, human competencies
and capacities, as well as technological capabilities and capacities, we
defined specific criteria, i. e. documentation/reporting, responsibilities
and governance, rules and guidelines (compliance), and scalability. The
paper will give insights into these criteria and their six different
assessment levels – both specifically formulated for the smartification
intent of the SME.This multi-dimensional approach contributes to more
transparency in the assessment result, being able to derive more specific
and appropriate measures, deliver input for completeness of the assessment
topics, as well as underlines the modular approach of the smartification
tool kit (Frings 2021). Our work will bring SMEs a large step closer to
their strategic decisions by considering the integration of people and
intelligent systems in a competitive manner to develop future service
business and make more use of the advantages of the digital transformation.