Praxis Approach: To Assess Capability & Maturity of Projects

The Praxis Approach emphasises integrating theoretical knowledge with practical experience to improve knowledge and skills continuously. It provides a comprehensive framework for project, program, and portfolio management. It covers all management aspects, including governance, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and benefits management.  

The Praxis Approach is flexible and can be adapted to suit the specific needs of different organisations and projects. Read this blog on Praxis Approach and explore how this integrated methodology combines knowledge and adaptability for successful project delivery.

Table of Contents

1) Overview of the Praxis Approach 

2) Adapting the CMMI approach  

3) Levels of CMMI Processes  

4) Conclusion 

Overview of the Praxis Approach  

The Praxis Approach isn't just another Project Management methodology, it's a comprehensive framework that encompasses your projects, programs, and portfolios. You can imagine it as a one-stop solution for all your Project Management needs. The Praxis Approach aims to empower organisations and individuals to deliver successful projects consistently, offering a practical, adaptable, and holistic approach to Project Management excellence.

Here are the following facets that sets the Praxis Approach apart from more traditional or conventional methods:

a)  Holistic view: It integrates best practices from various sources like PMBOK and CMMI, covering everything from stakeholder engagement to risk management.

b)  Continuous improvement: Built-in mechanisms like capability assessments and maturity levels help organizations and individuals learn and grow over time.

c)  Scalability and flexibility: Whether managing a small team or a complex program, Praxis adapts to suit your needs, allowing you to tailor it to your specific context.

d)  Focus on both ‘doing’ and ‘being’: Praxis emphasises not just following processes but also developing the necessary skills and behaviors for effective Project Management.
 

Capability and Maturity Levels 

A crucial aspect of the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) model is distinguishing between capability and maturity. Maturity levels range from 1 to 5, while capability levels range from 0 to 3. Higher-level processes are broader and more integrative, whereas lower-level processes are more focused. 

The Praxis Framework method extends the philosophy of the CMMI model and modifies it to fit the framework of projects, programs, and portfolios.
 

Adapting the CMMI approach  

Praxis is an approach based on lifecycle processes, including identification and definition processes, which comprehensively utilise and integrate knowledge functions. These processes cover topics such as stakeholder management and risk management.  

As a result, the Praxis model extends the CMMI methodology by employing lifecycle processes to assess maturity and functions to measure capability. Specific attributes are used to evaluate each of the five levels in the model. While you may acquire competence in specific areas like stakeholder management and risk management, maturity cannot be achieved unless these areas are applied to and integrated into all lifecycle aspects.  

Praxis consists of a body of knowledge comprising functions covering specific areas such as stakeholder and risk management. It also includes a method based on lifecycle processes, such as the identification and definition processes, which extensively utilise and integrate the knowledge functions. Therefore, the Praxis model adapts the CMMI approach by utilising functions to measure capability and lifecycle processes to measure maturity. 

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Levels of CMMI Processes 

Specific attributes are used to evaluate each of the five levels in the model. Now, let's discuss the five-step processes of these models. At level 1, the precise objectives are met for the function or process. When you visit the Praxis website, you will find that each topic begins with a list of objectives that must be fulfilled to pass level 1. If these objectives are not met, you remain at level 0.  

While goals may have been achieved in an ad-hoc manner at level 1, at level 2, they are accomplished more quickly, systematically, and robustly. The management approach at level 3 becomes more proactive. Here, the team in charge of a project, program, or portfolio will adapt to various situations and capture lessons learned. Performance objectives are specified at level 4. Finally, at level 5, the focus is on progress and continual improvement.


A Praxis evaluation incorporates all the above indicators, aligning it with the CMMI methodology. With the Praxis evaluation tool, you can assess maturity and competence in various tasks and processes. The evaluation tool is a real-time dashboard and checklist to help you establish and enhance your management practices for projects, programs, and portfolios.  

You don't even need to register to use the evaluation tool. Simply visit the Praxis website, select a process or function, navigate to the Maturity 360 page, and answer the questions. Your report will provide an overview of your maturity or competence level and the steps you need to take to progress to the next level.  

For a comprehensive evaluation of an entire project, program, or portfolio, and the ability to store assessment results or benchmark against others, registration is required. The guest assessment training handbook provides detailed information.  

Registered users can start with a simple individual evaluation of a project before proceeding to a full 360-degree review involving the Project Manager, Sponsor, and other Stakeholders.  

Similarly, you can evaluate a program from a single or 360-degree perspective and then integrate the findings with the projects that comprise the program. Lastly, you can evaluate a portfolio with or without combining its component projects and programs. 

Conclusion 

We hope this blog post assisted you in understanding the different levels of CMMI processes, how to adapt the CMMI approach, the principles of the Praxis Approach to assessing the capability and maturity of projects and more. 

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