This tutorial provides an overview of the work being done at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) on the capability maturity model for software (CMM). The CMM describes the ability of organizaitons to develop and maintain software; it is a model of organizational improvement. It is based on the process management work of quality gurus such as Deming, Juran, and Crosby and can be applied by organizations to improve their software process via software process assessments and by acquisition agencies to select qualified software vendors via contractor evaluations. The tutorial briefly discusses the principles underlying process and quality management and performing assessments to improve the software process and evaluations to improve the supplier base. The bulk of the discussion is on understanding the five maturity levels and the key process areas that characterize them. The tutorial is based on Version 1.1 of the CMM, released in February 1993.