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The GPAU Maturity Models

Unique frameworks for evaluating strategy and performance management-related capabilities.

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Discover the GPAU Maturity Model

Learn how the GPAU Model provides organizations with a structured pathway for evaluating organizational maturity and driving continuous performance improvement.

Organizational level

Organizational level

The capability maturity models included in this section are relevant for an enterprise's corporate view. They can be accessed independently or as part of the Integrated Performance Maturity Model. Each framework is comprehensive, providing an in-depth scan of the capability targeted. However, when assessed together, additional insights related to alignment and synergies are revealed.

All GPAU Maturity Models share the same assessment methodology.

The GPAU Accredited Assessor scores the entity based on documents review and interview findings, while the internal stakeholders will share their scores through survey.

Assessment methodology

  • Documentation review
  • Survey deployment
  • Interviews

Maturity stages

I - Initial II - Emergent III - Structured IV - Advanced V - Leading

Capabilities

Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning

The Strategic Planning Maturity Model evaluates the business planning ability of an organization, including:

  • Clarity of mission, vision, and values
  • Rigor of research and stakeholders' engagement in planning, as well as the strategy horizon
  • Articulation of strategy into measurable objectives, KPIs, and initiatives
  • Strategy alignment across functions and integration with risk and sustainability
  • Adaptability through foresight and contingency planning
  • Governance, technology, communication, and competencies of the strategy function
Strategic Planning

GPAU Excellence Loop

The three institutions are intertwined and they nurture the development and continuous improvement of GPAU's maturity models and standards.

1

Innovation - Center for Research & Innovation

Research and insight generation:

  • Maintains regular academic research activities
  • Undertakes business research exploring the organizational practices and gaps
  • Identifies and monitors trends, challenges, and future needs
  • Publishes research findings and insights

Product development:

  • Develops maturity models, assessment tools, and methodologies
  • Tests and recalibrates innovative ideas and tools

Standards and certifications foundation:

  • Produce outputs that underpin GPAU Standards and certifications
  • Determine how tools and models feed into assessments and accreditation

Access and delivery options:

  • Maturity models are typically part of assessment services rather than standalone online purchases
  • Research reports and GPAU International Standards can be accessed separately or as part of membership or specific programs
Discover our latest research
2

Standardization - Institute for Standards & Accreditation

Standards release:

  • Defines best practices in our fields of expertise
  • Translates maturity model requirements and assessment methodologies into formal, uniform standards
  • Publishes international standards

Accreditation programs:

  • Grants accreditations for compliance with GPAU International Standards to organizations
  • Administers accreditation schemes and manages ongoing compliance and renewals

Implementation guidance:

  • Provides practical steps for applying standards, maps standards to existing processes, and supplies training resources and governance considerations.
  • ISA ensures credibility and independence, determining access pathways for standards and accreditation.
Check GPAU International Standards
3

Competency - GPAU Academy

Upskilling:

  • Maps competencies required and builds the skills to deploy maturity models in strategy planning and performance management capabilities
  • Provides high-quality educational programs to professionals (training, mentoring, etc.)

Credentials:

  • Introduces a new profession, the Strategy & Performance Management Assessor
  • Evaluates competencies and provides professional certifications
  • Fosters the continuous learning of GPAU Accredited Assessors through its recertification scheme
  • Ensures the delivery of high-quality maturity assessment through accredited professionals

Community development:

  • Nurture a community for continuous professional growth

Education offerings:

  • Provide certification and training
Become a GPAU Accredited Assessor

Frequently Asked Questions

For more questions, drop us a message at office@gpaunit.org

What are the GPAU Maturity Models?

The GPAU Maturity Models are frameworks developed by the Global Performance Audit Unit to assess the maturity of an organisation’s performance management system. They evaluate how systematically performance management practices are designed, implemented, and sustained against defined assessment criteria.

GPAU uses two models: the Integrated Performance Maturity Model, which provides an organisation-wide assessment of performance management, and the Operations Performance Maturity Model, which focuses on performance management at the operational level.

What are the five GPAU maturity levels?

All GPAU Maturity Models use a five-level maturity scale:

Level I – Initial: Practices are ad hoc or key practices are not yet in place.

Level II – Emergent: Basic performance management practices are established.

Level III – Structured: Practices are systematic and supported by a sound performance management infrastructure.

Level IV – Advanced: Practices are strongly integrated and supported by effective technology use.

Level V – Leading: Performance management reflects a state-of-the-art architecture and advanced practices.

What capabilities do the GPAU Maturity Models assess?

The Integrated Performance Maturity Model assesses five capabilities: Strategic Planning (SP), Performance Measurement (PM), Performance Improvement (PI), Employee Performance Management (EPM), and Performance Culture (PC). Organisations can also choose to access only one or some of these capabilities, but at the expense of the holistic overview that an Integrated Performance evaluation can offer.

The Operations Performance Maturity Model has the same capabilities, with Operational Planning replacing Strategic Planning. Organisations can also assess one or more individual capabilities.

What is the difference between the Integrated Performance Maturity Model and the Operations Performance Maturity Model?

The Integrated Performance Maturity Model and the Operations Performance Maturity Model are complementary and follow a similar structure. They assess the same five capabilities, except that the Operations Performance Maturity Model replaces Strategic Planning with Operational Planning.

Although most capability titles are the same, the assessment items in the Operations Performance Maturity Model are adapted to reflect the operational performance management context. The Operations Performance Maturity Model is suitable for division-level assessments, while the Integrated Performance Maturity Model is best suited for corporate-level assessments.

How do the GPAU Maturity Models compare to other maturity models?

The GPAU Maturity Models take an in-depth, holistic approach to performance management, connecting strategy, corporate performance management, employee performance, and organisational culture within the assessment.

The Integrated Performance Maturity Model includes more than 280 assessment items and draws on multiple sources of evidence, including formal policies and procedures, interviews with key internal stakeholders, and perception-based data gathered through surveys.

The GPAU Maturity Models originated from academic research and have subsequently been refined through their application in organisational assessments and evolving performance management practices.

Learn more
Can GPAU Maturity Models be applied across different sectors?

Yes. The GPAU Maturity Models are designed to be sector-agnostic and have been applied across government and private-sector organisations in industries including transportation, aviation, tourism, financial services, and petrochemicals.

During an assessment, organisational context and sector-specific characteristics are considered when interpreting findings and developing recommendations.

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How often are the GPAU Maturity Models updated?

The GPAU Maturity Models are reviewed and updated every three years to reflect advances in strategy and performance management as well as business evolution. The current framework version is 3.0, released in 2025.

Can an organisation assess itself against the GPAU Maturity Models?

Yes. Organisations can conduct a self-diagnostic using PerforAssess™ QuickScan, which provides a rapid maturity overview based on the GPAU Maturity Models.

For an expert-led assessment, organisations can use PerforAssess™ Diagnose, which provides a maturity score and assessment findings, or PerforAssess™ Recognized, which provides a formal maturity assessment leading to official recognition and certification.

Learn more
Do the GPAU Maturity Models assess an organisation’s business results?

No. An organisation’s performance results are not included as assessment criteria. The GPAU Maturity Models evaluate the tools, processes, and architecture of the performance management system, rather than the extent to which the organisation achieves its performance targets.

Contact us at: M: 00971 52 531 1527 | E: office@gpaunit.org

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