Test Maturity Model is based on the Capability Maturity Model (CMM), and it was first developed by the Illinois Institute of Technology. It is a detailed model for test process improvement. It can be complemented with any process improvement model or can be used as a STAND ALONE model.
TMM has major two components
A set of 5 levels that define testing capability
An Assessment Model
Different Levels of Maturity Model
The five levels of the TMM helps the organization to determine the maturity of its process and to identify the next improvement steps that are essential to achieving a higher level of test maturity.
TMM Levels
Goals
Objective of TMM levels
Level 1: Initial
Software should run successfully
At this level, no process areas are identified
Objective of testing is to ensure that software is working fine
This level lacks resources, tools, and trained staff
No quality assurance checks before software delivery
Level 2: Defined
Develop testing and debugging goals and policies
This level distinguish testing from debugging & they are considered distinct activities
Testing phase comes after coding
Primary goal of testing is to show software meets specification
Basic testing methods and techniques are in place
Level 3: Integrated
Integration of testing into the software life cycle
Testing gets integrated into entire life cycle
Based on requirements test objectives are defined
Test organization exists
Testing recognized as a professional activity
Level 4 :Management and Measurement
Establish a test measurement program
Testing is a measured and quantified process
Review at all development phases are recognized as tests
For reuse and regression testing, test cases are gathered and recorded in a test database
Defects are logged and given severity levels
Level 5 :Optimized
Test process optimization
Testing is managed and defined
Testing effectiveness and costs can be monitored
Testing can be fine-tuned and continuously improved
Quality control and defect prevention are practiced
Process reuse is practiced
Test related metrics also have tool support
Tools provide support for test case design and defect collection
Difference between CMM & TMM
CMM
TMM
CMM or Capability Maturity Model is for judging the maturity of the software processes of an organization
TMM or Test Maturity Model describes the process of testing and is related to monitoring the quality of software testing model
Conclusion:
Software maintenance is expensive and time-consuming when defects are identified after project delivery. Consequently, while detecting defects are important, it is also important that software makes minimum errors during the development phase. A standard testing process like TMM can help to achieve this. TMM (Testing Maturity Model) that is specially designed to address testing can help the organization to improve the maturity of their testing practices.
