ABSTRACT
Maturity usually refers to the adoption of “good practice” within a framework which encourages repeatable outcomes. It is defined by the degree to which organisational processes and activities are executed following principles of good practice. The adaptation of this concept is underlined by a number of assumptions (Becta 2005):
• organisations share common concerns about reliability, sustainability and return on investment;
• a continuous process of review across an organisation will promote continuous improvement;
• while organisations are different, in general their development follows a rational pattern;
• the cumulative effect of a number of small, incremental changes can lead to a qualitative change in how the organisation operates;
• while change continues, there are clear plateaux with well-defined characteristics;
• increased organisational maturity leads to increased organisational effectiveness.
