ISO/IEC 33004:2015

Overview

ISO/IEC 33004:2015 specifies requirements for process reference models, process assessment models, and maturity models used in IT process assessment. Part of the ISO/IEC 330xx family, it defines how process definitions, measurement frameworks and maturity constructs relate and interact so that assessment results are consistent, comparable and verifiable across contexts (development, maintenance, systems engineering and IT service delivery).

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose: Defines the role of a process reference model as the authoritative set of processes supporting a community of interest and as the basis for one or more process assessment models.
• Process reference model requirements: Must declare domain and intended context, document process relationships, provide unique process descriptions and identify the community of interest and consensus actions.
• Process descriptions: Each process description must state the purpose and a necessary and sufficient set of process outcomes (observable results such as artifacts, state changes, or meeting constraints). Outcomes must be assessable and limited to the basic level of the applicable process measurement framework.
• Process assessment models: Provide a two‑dimensional view - the process dimension (from the reference model) and the measurement dimension (process attributes and quality levels). Requirements cover integration of reference models and measurement frameworks, use of common assessment indicators, mapping and expression of assessment results, and verification of model conformity.
• Maturity models: Must be based on process assessment models and define a scale of organizational process maturity, process descriptions, and rules for deriving maturity levels from process quality levels. Conformity verification and objective evidence are required.
• Conformity and compliance: Verification can be demonstrated by objective evidence (conformity) or demonstration of compliance with specified normative documents.

Practical applications

• Building or validating a process reference model for software, systems engineering, or IT service teams.
• Designing a process assessment model that combines a reference model with a measurement framework to produce repeatable assessment results.
• Creating or adapting a maturity model that aggregates process quality into organizational maturity levels.
• Enabling comparable, auditable process assessments to support process improvement, supplier evaluation, risk identification and contractual quality metrics.

Who uses this standard

• Process architects, assessors and auditors
• Standards developers and tool vendors for process assessment solutions
• Software and systems engineering managers, IT service managers, and consultants performing capability/maturity evaluations

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 33001 (Concepts and terminology)
• ISO/IEC 33003 (Requirements for process measurement frameworks)
• ISO/IEC 12207, ISO/IEC 15288 (prescriptive process models referenced)
• ISO/IEC 29169, ISO/IEC 24774 and the broader ISO/IEC 330xx family

Keywords: ISO/IEC 33004:2015, process assessment, process reference model, process assessment model, maturity model, process measurement framework, process outcomes, process quality.