Success Factors in the adoption of CMMI-DEV Maturity Levels in Software Development Organizations in Baja California, Mexico

The Program for the Development of the Software Industry in Mexico has maintained as a strategy the certification of Software Development Organizations (SDOs) in the CMMIDEV model, with the aim of positioning them as competitors in the international market. However, the current state of the total number of Mexican SDOs certified and maturity level reached; demonstrate the adoption of Software Process Improvement is not an easy process. This document presents an analysis related to the success factors for the adoption of SPI initiatives in CMMI-DEV-certified SDOs in the state of Baja California and the maturity levels they have achieved. Awareness of this information is important due to the geographical location of the state, south of the border with the United States of America, and the related potential economic advantages and challenges. An exploratory study with 4 certified SDOs was carried out to determine the motivation of their certification, the benefits obtained, the assessment of ten success factors, and the impediments to obtain a successful implementation of CMMIDEV.