Let’s first address the IT Maturity Model. Gartner Analysts explained that the IT Maturity Model is comprised of the following three elements:

  • Process
  • Infrastructure
  • Culture

I am sure by now you recognize the good old “process, people and technology” which summarizes the structural elements of any IT practice – no surprises yet. However, the question that is being proposed here is how do you measure the return on maturity, IT maturity that is? In other words why should we care to mature and advance our practices, other than because we can or because others are doing it? Well, Thomas Bittman explained that return on IT maturity is to be measured by the dimensions of 1) economics, 2) agility, & 3) quality of service. So the equation is:

Return on IT Maturity = Economics + Agility + Quality of Service or RIM = E + A + QS

Interesting! If you stair at this equation for a minute or two, you will realize how much work is required to figure out how to measure each factor in this equation, and you can imagine how long it may take for such measure to be accepted by practitioners. If anything, economics is something that we know how to measure today. Even though, we still see bad examples here and there. But we’re far from fully understanding how to measure agility and quality of service.

Thoughts!