[glorgau]

Well, it isn't really designed at all. It happens by accident. Yep, most software organizations - and that includes most of Microsoft and Apple - are Capability Maturity Model level 1 organizations. They can repeat the feat, but can't really say how they did it.

[Starwolf]

It a heresy but I am not convinced that CMM and CMMI are all they are cracked up to be.

In the original version of Peopleware, Tom Yourdon talked about how in the software we are always thinking that the next new fad will save us from ourselves. Think he called it the Laetrile Effect or some such. I've been at it long enough to see several cycles of it.

The Gov requires CMM Level 3 or better from its contractors these days, but no commercial shop does the dance required to get the ratings. Note that I am in a CMMI & CM Level 5 organization.