Introduction
The term maturity matrix refers to the relative maturation of an organization's capabilities. It is about how the organization does what it does or its process and practices. The maturity matrix identifies five levels of ability, from basic awareness of the processes within an organization to complete optimization of business performance. This tool is commonly used in quality management and appears in the Appendix of ISO 9004. Whether or not you are an ISO fan, the maturity matrix can assist an organization's journey towards sustainability targets and circularity. In addition, it is a
valuable tool for tracking progress towards those targets.
It’s all about being prepared for the future.
The maturity matrix is about being prepared for the future. This tool helps you understand how your business is doing and what you need to do next. It also lets you know where your business stands in terms of reaching the circularity target, which can help with decision-making processes and resource allocation planning.
The maturity matrix shows an organization's progress from its initial stage to successive stages until it reaches circularity. Circularity success is a target that has passed through all four stages: preparation of the target (allocating resources costs money), growth and learning, increased drive (progress is there but increases slower than before), and the ultimate achievement of the circularity target.
Rather than being a list of actions, the maturity matrix is an overview of all factors that impact business success.
A maturity matrix is a tool that can help you understand where your circularity project stands in the
resources, processes, and learning. It's more than just a list of actions—it's an overview of all factors that impact circularity success.
To use the maturity matrix effectively, you need to know how it works and how each level affects
your company's performance.
The maturity matrix can be used with life cycle thinking (LCT) and process mapping to drive your circularity targets.
The maturity matrix is also helpful because it allows you to understand how you are doing as you work towards circularity and what you need to do next. This information is used to let employees know how they are doing and develop the action plan and KPIs, which will help guide them towards success!
Maturity matrix is a term used in business to refer to the relative maturation of an organization's capabilities.
A maturity matrix is a way to measure the progression of an organization's capabilities. The maturity matrix provides information about the current state of your sustainability efforts, including its processes and systems, so you can improve them as you work towards circularity. The maturity model is divided into five levels:
Level 1: Ad hoc
Level 2: Repeatable
Level 3: Defined
Level 4: Managed
Level 5: Optimizing
Maturity matrix is a term used in business to refer to the relative maturation of an organization's capabilities.
Level 1: Ad hoc
An organization at this level has yet to define processes or systems consistently. The entire process is handled by an individual who uses their best judgment to complete the work.
Level 2: Repeatable
At this level, an organization has some defined processes and systems in place that are followed consistently. The processes and systems are not documented but are known by all employees who perform them. The organization may have yet to formally review processes or metrics for measuring performance against expectations.
Level 3: Defined
At this level, an organization has documented processes and systems that it follows consistently throughout its operations. These processes and systems have been analyzed and reviewed by management as part of an ongoing improvement effort; however, they have yet to be approved by upper management for use across the entire company. Upper management may also review progress against Level 4: Managed goals.
Level 4: Managed
At this level, an organization has documented processes and systems that it follows consistently throughout its operations; these processes and systems have been analyzed.
Level 5: Success
Once you reach this level, circularity is strategic as the entire organization understands its product(s) life cycle and impacts and how it is conveyed to the organization’s external stakeholders.
The maturity matrix is about how the organization does what it does or its process and systems as you work towards circularity.
The first level is called awareness. This is where an organization understands what it does and how it does it but needs to focus on continuous improvement in those processes.
The second level is called Application. This is where an organization applies its understanding of its processes (through process mapping) to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.
The third level is called optimization. This is where an organization has optimized its approach to achieving its goals as well as possible, given current resources and constraints.
The fourth level is called Superiority. This is where an organization has gone beyond optimization by creating new ways of doing things that improve overall performance even further than before—and potentially even create new growth opportunities.
The fifth level? That's a secret and your competitive advantage. It is the level where you reach the target (circularity) and can now use your difference to increase market share and sales by redefining the organization’s product into one that follows the attributes of the new circular model you created.
Conclusion
A maturity matrix is a great way to understand how your business is doing and what you need to do next on your journey towards circularity. It can be easily integrated with other tools such as LCT and process mapping to implement a complete sustainability system. The maturity matrix identifies five levels of capability, from basic awareness of the processes within an organization to complete optimization of business performance which ultimately creates your competitive advantage. This tool is not new; it has been used in thousands of organizations globally to drive success. Therefore, it is an invaluable tool for helping your organization on its circularity journey.
Presented by
Denice Viktoria Staaf
LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador, EPD & HPD Approved Preparer
ESG Consultant and Circularity Expert
E: dstaaf@labelingsustainability.com
