API-m-FAMM: A focus area maturity model for API Management

Abstract

Context: Organizations are increasingly connecting software applications using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to share data, services, functionality, and even complete business processes. However, the creation and management of APIs is non-trivial. Aspects such as traffic management, community engagement, documentation, and version management are often rushed afterthoughts. Objective: In this research, we present and evaluate a focus area maturity model for API Management (API-m-FAMM). A focus area maturity model can be used to establish the maturity level of an organization in a specific functional domain described through a number of areas. The API-m-FAMM addresses the areas Lifecycle Management, Security, Performance, Observability, Community, and Commercial. Method: The model is constructed using established methods for the design of a focus area maturity model. It is grounded in literature and practice, and was developed and evaluated through a systematic literature Review, eleven expert interviews, and five case studies at software producing organizations. Result: The model is described in detail, and its application is illustrated by six case studies. Conclusions: The evaluations are reported on, and show that the API-m-FAMM is an efficient tool for aiding organizations in gaining a better understanding of their current implementation of API management practices, and provides them with guidance towards higher levels of maturity. The detailed description of the construction of the API-m-FAMM gives researchers an example to further support the available methodologies, specifically how to combine design science research with these methodologies. Additionally, this study's unique case study design shows that maturity models can be successfully deployed in practice with minimal involvement of researchers. The focus area maturity model for API Management is maintained on www.maturitymodels.org, allowing practitioners to benefit from its useful insights.