CMMI-DEV v1.3 Reference Model in ArchiMate Lu´ ıs Miguel Gonc ¸alves Valverde luis.valverde@tecnico.ulisboa.pt Instituto Superior T ´ ecnico, Lisboa, Portugal October 2018 Abstract To verify what are the existing concepts and their relationships in a framework, graphical reference models can be used instead of textual descriptions, giving a different and a clearer idea of how a frame- work works. Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is a well-known framework used by organi- zations to improve their processes. When adopting a framework like CMMI, organizations face many challenges, some of them related to the perceived complexity of the textual representation of CMMI by its users. In order to reduce the high perceived complexity of CMMI by its users, a graphical reference model for CMMI using ArchiMate as the chosen Enterprise Architecture (EA) modeling language was proposed. The research is focused on the part of CMMI related to the development of both products and services, known as CMMI for Development (CMMI-DEV), in the version 1.3. With ArchiMate as the chosen EA modeling language, a reference model for CMMI-DEV v1.3 was developed following the Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) with the purpose of reducing the high perceived complexity of this framework by representing its concepts and relationships with graphical concepts and relationships of ArchiMate. To demonstrate the utility of the proposed reference model for CMMI-DEV v1.3, a field study was conducted in a real organization that was improving their processes using the same version of CMMI- DEV used in this research. The demonstration in the research shows mappings between the EA of the organization and the proposed reference model with the purpose of demonstrating the potential benefits of representing CMMI with an EA. Finally, to validate both the proposed reference model and the demonstration, well-known techniques to evaluate Design Science (DS) artifacts (mappings, models), as well as interviews with the staff of the organization behind the project of adopting CMMI, were used. The research concludes with some findings and future work on this topic. Keywords: Reference Models, Capability Maturity Model Integration, Enterprise Architecture, ArchiMate 1. Introduction Nowadays, organizations are increasingly focus- ing on the quality and functionality of the software they develop, much of which involves redesigning their software processes to follow the best prac- tices known in the industry so that the software they developed becomes trustworthy, reliable, of a high quality, fit its purpose and is consistently de- livered on time to their customers [1]. A software process can be seen as the glue that connects people, tools and equipments, and pro- cedures and methods in a consistent way through a set of interrelated activities that, together, interact to develop and maintain software and the associ- ated work products [1, 2]. The Software Engineer- ing Institute (SEI) that is an American research, de- velopment and training center involved in computer software and network security and other quality ex- perts believe that there is a close relationship be- tween the quality of the delivered software and the quality and maturity of the software processes [1]. To achieve mature processes with improved qual- ity and effectiveness, the steps that organizations take are not so intuitive as they can do it without a certain type of guidance, therefore there was a need to create initiatives that lead to a focus on software processes and on ways to improve them [3]. Software Process Improvement (SPI) initiatives define and measure best practices and processes for improving the existing processes in organiza- tions, intending to help them develop higher quality software and products and achieve their business goals more efficiently, where the business goals can be: faster delivery of software and products to the market on time and budget; improved customer satisfaction; improved quality of software and prod- ucts; and cost reduction of development. In other words, SPI helps organizations to work smarter, as they build software and products, better, faster and 1