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Maturity Model for Microsoft 365

The Maturity Model for Microsoft 365 is a set of guides and tools to let companies improve productivity, assurance and effectiveness.

For the last several months I have been part of a small international team doing some serious work developing a #MaturityModel for #Microsoft365. While it’s restricted the number of blog posts I have written, it’s produced some hefty, truly useful content over on the Microsoft Community Docs portal.

The Maturity Model for Microsoft 365 (MM4M365 to its friends) is all about:

  1. Enabling organisations to improve themselves through use of technology
  2. Providing a means of bench-marking company and department competencies
  3. Helping decision makers to select appropriate approaches
  4. Developing an organisational business and technical road map based on what’s possible, what’s desired and the organisation’s culture and drivers
  5. Aligning implementation needs and objectives

As an entrepreneur, I wish I had had this a decade ago as it’s about the appropriate use of technology to maker decisions about and improve the organisation, not about how lovely, intuitive and feature rich the technology is.

It’s divided into a range of business competencies, with specific characteristics at each of the maturity model levels that describe how mature that business competency is in your organisation, department or process.

The Maturity Model defines 5 different levels, ranging from that Initial stage where you are just figuring out how to do things, through increasing levels of improvement and optimisation coupled with control and assurance, peaking at a level 5 which represents a zenith of productivity, efficiency and agility

The Maturity Model levels

You can read all about it here: https://aka.ms/m365-community-docs (look at the stuff on the right hand side)

But, before you do, have a look at this survey and help us build a picture of what organisations needs are.

I think it’s really interesting stuff. Perhaps you will too.

The MM4M365 international team

PS: If you feel that you might want to become an actual expert in this stuff, inside you company or as a consultant, then we are going to be hosting MM4M365 Practitioners sessions. Sign up here, there is no cost.

#MM4M365 @M365CommDocs @M365Maturity  

Simon's avatar

By Simon

Simon Hudson is an entrepreneur and health sector specialist. He formed Cloud2 in 2008 following a rich career in the international medical device industry and the IT industry. Simon’s background encompasses quality assurance, medical device development, international training, business intelligence and international marketing and health related information and technology.

Simon’s career has spanned both the UK and the international health industry, with roles that have included quality system auditing, medical device development, international training (advanced wound management) and international marketing. In 2000 he co-founded a software-based Clinical Outcomes measurement start-up in the US. Upon joining ioko in 2004 he created the Carelink division and, as General Manager, drove it to become a multi-million pound business in its own right.
In 2008, Simon founded Cloud2 in response to a need for a new way of delivering successful projects based on Microsoft SharePoint. This created the first commercial ‘Intranet in a Box’ solution and kickstarted a new industry. He exited that business in 2019, which has continued to grow as a leading provider of Power BI and analytics solutions.

In 2016, he co-founded Kinata Ltd. to enable effective Advice and Guidance in the NHS and is currently guiding the business beyond its NHS roots to address needs in Her Majesty’s Prisons and in Australasia.

In 2021, Simon founded Novia Works Ltd.

In 2021 he was invited to become Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Hull.

In 2022 he was recognised as a Microsoft MVP.

In 2025 he founded Sustainable Ferriby CIC, a community energy not-for-profit to develop energy generation, energy & carbon reduction, and broader sustainability & NetZero projects in the West Hull villages.

Simon has had articles and editorials published in a variety of technology, knowledge management, clinical benchmarking and health journals, including being a regular contributor to PC Pro, as well as a presenter at conferences. He publishes a blog on areas of interest at noviaworks.co.uk. He is a co-facilitator of the M365 North User Group. He is a lead author and facilitator on the Maturity Model for Microsoft 365. He is the author of two patents relating to medical devices. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Physical Science and a PGCE in Physics and Chemistry from the University of Hull.

Simon is passionate about rather too many things, including science, music (he plays guitar and octave mandola), skiing, classic cars, narrowboats, the health sector, sustainability, information technology and, by no means least, his family.

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