Why Most Maturity Models Fail (And How to Fix Yours)

Maturity models are powerful, but they are also prone to failure. We've seen countless organizations spend months building the "perfect" model, only to have it ignored by the teams it was meant to help. Here is why that happens and how to prevent it.

1. The "Ivory Tower" Syndrome

The Failure: A small group of architects or executives builds the model in isolation. They define "Level 5" based on theoretical perfection, disconnected from the reality of the trenches.

The Fix: Co-creation. Involve the people who do the work in defining the levels. If the engineers don't agree that Level 4 is better than Level 3, they won't strive for it.

2. Over-Complexity

The Failure: The model has 15 dimensions and 7 levels. The assessment takes 3 days to complete. Nobody has time for that.

The Fix: Keep it simple. Start with 3-5 dimensions and 4-5 levels. You can always add complexity later. If it fits on one screen (like in our Maturity Model Builder), it's more likely to be used.

3. Weaponization

The Failure: Management uses the maturity score to punish teams. "Team A is Level 2, so they get no bonus." This leads to "gaming the system," where teams lie on the assessment to look good.

The Fix: Psychological safety. Make it clear that the assessment is for improvement, not judgment. A low score is an opportunity for investment, not a reason for punishment.

4. Lack of Actionable Next Steps

The Failure: The model describes the state ("Processes are optimized") but not how to get there.

The Fix: Ensure each level's description implies the action needed to reach it. If Level 2 is "Documented," the action is clear: "Write documentation."