The 5 Levels of Social Media Maturity. Where Is Your Company?

The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) has long been applied to measure the maturity of a company's software development processes.  For many software development companies or in house development organisations, the pursuit of CMM or CMMI level 5 has been a necessary marketing badge - just like other quality metrics such as those from BSI.  However, this article applies the same principle to Social Media Maturity in an interesting way.  Read the full article from Tac Anderson here:

Social media continues to grow up and mature but we’ve got a long way to go. I’ve been talking to several clients and prospective clients and I’m seeing some very encouraging signs. One way to gauge the sophistication of your social media efforts is to use the Capability Maturity Model. Most companies somewhere between a level 1 and a level 3. Very few companies are at a 4 and I don’t know anyone that can truly say they’re at a 5 (although I know several companies that are aggressively working towards it).

Where do you think your company fits in? (Be honest.)

Capability Maturity Model: You can see the Wikipedia entry for more context.

Level 1:  Initial – (chaotic, ad hoc, individual heroics) – the starting point for use of a new process. The typical behavior you see in an organization is heroics, where you have a great idea  and  a group of passionate supporters do everything. Everyone jumps on board every time there’s a problem.

Level 2: Managed - A functional manager decides the heroics are not effective to build a business and puts together some processes.  The team may use them but they  are not adopted consistently  throughout the company.

Level 3: Defined - The organization realizes that things aren’t working, balls are getting dropped, employees are tired,  additional headcount may or may not help  there is a desire to fix the problem across the company. The process is defined/confirmed as a standard business process shared across the company.

Level 4: Quantitatively Managed - A business process is in place and there is data over a period of time to establish metrics.  The functional area has metrics and the metrics roll up to support the business goals and objectives.

Level 5: Optimizing - Complaints, efficiencies are managed in a closed loop corrective action plan. Where these requests are tracked,  business systems are changed to meet the needs of the business.  Decisions are based on efficiency, creativity and voice of customer.

How can WSI help your organisation move up through the CMM levels for Social Media Maturity.  Let us know if you need any help by going to our digital marketing contact page.