Ken Orr wrote ( in Cutter IT Journal Vol.3, No. 7 ):

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Level 2: Repeatable


Basic management exists within Level 2 organizations. Level 2 organizations have a basic project management structure in place that tracks costs, schedules, and, to some degree, systems functions. As the name implies, the software process in place is repeatable and reinforced by training and management controls.

Repeatable level organizations use the same processes time after time. Because the organization has repeatable processes, it can begin to work on measuring and improving these processes. It can also begin to work on the development process itself.

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Level 3: Defined


At Level 3, a software development organization has a well-defined software engineering approach as well as a project management framework. Here, the processes are well documented and communicated across the organization through standards and training. Raynus says, "If the repeatable level defines what to do and who should do it, the defined level specifies when to do it and how to do it" [6].

Though Level 2 organizations are mostly concerned with project management processes, Level 3 organizations are, theoretically at least, also concerned with defining and measuring software development processes. This difference represents a major difference in quality.

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