Maturity Models in Systems Research and Practice

In 2016, a team of scholars met at a gathering sponsored by the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR), to discuss how systems research could support the increase of systems literacy worldwide.  Members of this team developed a conceptual model of the role of systems research in developing such literacy.  One consideration this model identified was that people engage with the “systems world” from the vantage point of numerous roles:  systems scientist, systems researcher, system engineer, systems philosopher, etc..  Each of these roles demands particular competence with respect to systems theory and practice.  Future research must be done to identify a maturity profile for each role – how we can assess the degree to which a person is effectively executing the competencies required to do good systems work. Maturity models are utilized in several industries, in the attempt to cultivate and evaluate people’s ability to effectively execute complex tasks.  This paper will examine current thought about the value and pitfalls of maturity models.  To further the IFSR’s work of promoting world-class systems research, it will identify principles and exemplars that can guide the development of maturity models for the varied roles people take in the systems world.