There are many models and much consulting provided around an organizations capability and maturity.  My favorite framework for an insttitutional capability / maturity model is based on the following concept.

The level of maturity (see definition) is assessed and then coupled with the organizations capability (see definition)

 The overall capability / maturity rating depends on the assesment of both these factors and could be low even if maturity was high but capability was low (or vice-versa)

Maturity and Capability Definitions

Maturity – degree of formality and optimization of of the organizations processes.   This can range from largely ad hoc practices (no maturity) , to formally defined steps (low maturity), to managed result metrics (medium)to active optimization of the processes (high).

Capability – the consistency of execution and quality of the result is based on defined measures. These can range from following the process occassionally making it up as you go along (low, sporadic capability),  to one hundred percent uniformity in both practices and results (high capability) proven by real artifacts.

The Maturity Trap

Some organizations have well defined processe and practices which are largely ignored by the organizations human resources as they go about performing their roles each day.

The organizations stated goals (it’s reason for existing ) might be achieved  – or might not and this success or failure is largely “figured out” as time goes by.

This might be an organization with some maturity, but capability (do you perform?) could be sorely lacking.

In a truely capable -mature organization his would not be the case.  Outcomes can always  be accurately predicted in a highly mature /capable organization .  That is in fact, a key defining attribute of such organizations.

In short, a highly capable and mature organization will have clearly documented, well defined processes together with “artifacts” to prove they were executed and the expected results achieved.

In essence they ,say what they do and prove they did what they said.