Why organizations fail their first CMMI appraisal

Failed appraisals are rarely about the model being too hard. They're about preparation mistakes — the same five, over and over.

1. Binder processes nobody follows. The #1 killer. Appraisers interview practitioners; if the team describes a different process than the documents, the practice fails. Documents don't get rated — lived practice does.
2. No measurement history. Starting metrics a month before fieldwork is transparent. ML2+ expects measurement woven into management, with history.
3. Skipping the Class B. The dress rehearsal exists precisely to catch the other four failures while they're still fixable. Organizations that skip it fail at multiples of the Class B's cost.
4. Scope defined too late. An organizational unit defined during fieldwork expands evidence requirements mid-appraisal. Define scope in the planning phase and freeze it.
5. Consultant did it all. If only the consultant understands the processes, interviews reveal it immediately. Your people must own the processes — the consultant advises.

The cost of failing

A failed Benchmark means remediation work plus a re-appraisal — often 50–100% of the original appraisal fee on top of the consulting to fix findings. A $10,000–$40,000 Class B beforehand is the cheapest insurance in the program. See appraisal classes.