Title: Maturity assessment models: a design science research approach

Authors: Tobias Mettler

Addresses: University of St. Gallen & SAP Research CEC, St. Gallen, Blumenbergplatz 9, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland

Abstract: In order to ascertain and measure dedicated aspects of social and technical systems |maturity|, a wide range of maturity assessment models have been developed by both, practitioners and academics over the past years. In spite of its broad proliferation, the concept has not been untroubled by criticism. Unnecessary bureaucracy, poor theoretical foundation, and the impression of a falsified certainty to achieve success are just a few examples for that. As there is still a significant lack of knowledge on how to design theoretically sound and widely accepted maturity assessment models, it is the aim of this paper to discuss the typical phases of maturity model development and application by taking a design science research perspective. Given that both, development and application are intimately connected, different decision parameters are identified that are relevant in respect to rigour and relevance of the maturity assessment model.

Keywords: assessment models; change engineering; design decisions; design principles; design science research; maturity models; technical systems; bureaucracy; theoretical foundations; falsified certainty; decision parameters; society; systems science; assessment methods; social systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSS.2011.038934

International Journal of Society Systems Science, 2011 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.81 - 98

Published online: 27 Feb 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article