There are two representations for organizing process areas in CMMI models: continuous and staged. The continuous representation offers flexibility to improve specific trouble spots or closely aligned processes at different rates. The staged representation provides a systematic path for process improvement by organizing process areas into maturity levels that define the improvement path. While the staged representation benefits from demonstrated return on investment and guidance on improvement order, the continuous representation allows customizing the order and rates of improving different processes. When selecting a representation, an organization should consider its business objectives, culture, and past experience with other models.