IT-CMF and BPM critical capability: improving software development lab on academic context

Abstract

In order to generate better results, organizations are required to better manage and develop their processes. The role of Business Process Management (BPM) discipline and the exploitation of the organization's Information Technology (IT) capabilities are perceived as important instruments to the improvement of business processes. An empirical study was conducted in the Software Development Lab of a Higher Education Institution using the Information Technology Capability Maturity Framework (IT-CMF) to diagnose the current BPM maturity level and to improve its processes. This Software Development Lab bridges the gap between academia and industry, developing students' skills for the challenges of the workplace. One contribution to the study is a list of applied questions and their relationship with IT-CMF Capability Building Blocks that can serve as a basis for other practitioners. Another contribution is a list of actions to be performed by the Lab senior management to increase the maturity level of the Lab management of business processes.