What Master Systems does

Master Systems Inc. is a privately-held boutique advisory and consulting firm founded in February 1985 by Dr. Stan Rifkin and headquartered in Carlsbad, California. The firm specializes in the "last mile" of systems and software engineering process improvement, helping organizations select, adopt, and deploy best practices such as SEI CMM/CMMI, ISO 9000, ISO 12207, and Balanced Scorecard. Its core offerings are professional services only — advisory engagements, implementation and deployment support, objective assessments, training, and the establishment of Engineering Process Groups (EPGs/SEPGs) — delivered exclusively by senior practitioners with approximately thirty years of experience each and no junior associates. The firm does not sell software products; its intellectual property lies in methodologies, including a proprietary "mutual adaptation" approach in which both the organization and the technology are tailored to each other, and an extensive library of more than 50 published papers and presentations.

Master Systems goes to market through direct enterprise advisory engagements, taking line responsibility within client organizations and functioning in retainer-like, embedded roles. Revenue derives entirely from professional services billings, with no disclosed pricing, recurring product revenue, or standardized rate card. Customer segments focus on knowledge-creating enterprises — government contractors, defense and aerospace firms, financial services organizations, and other entities where engineered systems development is strategic — as well as innovation-driven or customer-intimate organizations underserved by traditional CMM/CMMI frameworks. Named engagements include advisory and program management work for DXC Technology (formerly CSC), two large no-load mutual fund companies (including an $18 million transfer agency outsourcing program), and Akima (NANA Development Corp.). The firm holds no disclosed funding, no parent company, and operates with a small, stable senior team whose relationships — with the Software Engineering Institute, USC's Center for Systems & Software Engineering, SERC, IEEE Software, Agile Alliance, and Future Search Network — anchor its market credibility.

Name

Master Systems

Legal name

Master Systems Inc.

Website

https://master-systems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Master Systems Inc. is a boutique advisory firm founded in 1985 that helps enterprises select, adopt, and deploy systems and software engineering process improvement practices (SEI CMMI, ISO, Balanced Scorecard) through senior-practitioner consulting engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT and Software Engineering Process Improvement Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory (BPAHAFAO)

Keywords

• Process improvement consulting
• Software engineering advisory
• SEI CMMI implementation
• Engineering process groups
• Organizational change management

Headquarters

HQ city

Reston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Advisory and Consulting Services: Master Systems offers advisory services related to creating or selecting and implementing improved processes for managing and developing knowledge-intensive products and services. Revenue comes from consulting engagements, objective assessments, training, and program management outsourcing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Master Systems is a boutique advisory and consulting firm that helps enterprise clients select, adapt, implement, and deploy model-based process improvement frameworks such as SEI CMM/CMMI, ISO 9000, ISO 12207, and Balanced Scorecard for systems and software engineering. Its senior practitioners deliver objective assessments, EPG/SEPG establishment, implementation and transition support, and training, working as embedded advisors who take line responsibility for outcomes. The firm's signature methodology is the Mutual Adaptation Approach, which tailors both the organization and the technology to fit one another.

Product overview

Master Systems is a consulting and advisory firm, not a software product company. The company offers professional services focused on systems and software engineering process improvement, including advisory services, implementation/deployment support, organizational assessments, Engineering Process Group (EPG/SEPG) establishment and staffing, and training. The firm does not offer a unified software platform with discrete products/modules but rather delivers its expertise through service engagements tailored to client needs, utilizing frameworks such as SEI CMM/CMMI, ISO 9000, ISO 12207, and Balanced Scorecard.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advisory Services for Process Improvement

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IEEE Software MagazineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStan Rifkin of Master Systems staff served as associate editor in chief for the areas of quality and management for IEEE Software Magazine. He actively solicited manuscripts and reviewers, regularly helped authors improve submissions, and contributed original articles.
• Journal of Enterprise TransformationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStan Rifkin has been on the Editorial Board since its inception, was guest editor for a special issue, contributed to the inaugural issue, and regularly reviewed submitted manuscripts. The journal ceased publication.
• Center for Systems & Software Engineering at USCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster Systems is a Visiting Associate Affiliate of the Center for Systems & Software Engineering at USC (home of Barry Boehm). The Center is a leader in evolving and unifying theories and practices of systems and software engineering. Dr. Rifkin has presented at and collaborated with this center extensively.
• Implementation Management Associates (IMA)coreTechnology or IntegrationIMA provides a step-by-step data-based method to plan and manage the human side of technological change. Several Master Systems staff members are certified in the expert use of IMA methods. This is used to manage organizational change aspects of process improvement.
• Future Search NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster Systems is a charter member of the Future Search Network, an organization dedicated to group work methodologies where goals are set, prioritized, and action plans developed and committed to in three days.
• Agile AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster Systems was a member of the Agile Alliance, the non-profit organization dedicated to promoting agile software development concepts. Author of the famous 'Manifesto for agile software development.'
• System Dynamics SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster Systems has been a sponsor of the System Dynamics Society. System dynamics is a method for studying and managing complex feedback systems such as those found in business and social systems.
• Software Engineering Institute (SEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Rifkin co-authored the seminal Software Engineering Process Group Guide (SEI Technical Report 90-TR-24) and Measurement in Practice (SEI Technical Report 91-TR-16). Master Systems' approaches are deeply rooted in SEI methodologies. Acknowledged for work on the International Process Research Consortium's A Process Research Framework.
• Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Rifkin served as research professor and director of technical programs at SERC (2011-2013), a university-affiliated research center of the US DoD operated by Stevens Institute of Technology. His research specialties were risk identification, engineering workforce evolution, and affordability.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte: Global professional services firm with a substantial technology and process transformation practice. Comparable as a broader-services competitor for enterprise process improvement mandates.
• Bain & Company: Global management consulting incumbent that competes for enterprise strategy and organizational performance engagements. Comparable at the level of senior-led advisory services to large enterprises.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG): Global management consulting incumbent with established technology and organizational practices. Comparable as a senior advisory competitor for enterprise transformation mandates.
• Accenture: Global IT and management consulting incumbent that delivers enterprise process and technology transformation at scale. Comparable as a prime contractor for the kind of large enterprise programs Master Systems supports in a specialist capacity.
• McKinsey & Company: Global management consulting incumbent that competes for senior-level organizational transformation advisory work. Comparable as a buyer of similar enterprise mandates, though operating at vastly greater scale and across all functions.
• Gartner: Global research and advisory firm serving CIOs and technology leaders. Comparable as a high-end enterprise advisory and benchmarking provider that overlaps with Master Systems' senior-executive buyer base.
• Forrester Research: Global research and advisory firm focused on technology and customer experience. Comparable as a senior advisory incumbent serving the same enterprise technology decision-makers.
• ISACA (owner of CMMI Institute): Global professional association that acquired the CMMI Institute in 2016 and now owns and operates the CMMI appraisal and training ecosystem that Master Systems supports. Comparable as the institutional steward of Master Systems' primary methodology.

Direct peers

• Cutter Consortium: Boutique advisory firm providing senior practitioner research and consulting to IT and software engineering leaders. Most directly comparable in business model and target buyer to Master Systems as a specialist, senior-only advisory practice.

Others

• Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon: Federally Funded Research and Development Center that originated the CMM/CMMI framework and co-produced the SEPG Guide that Master Systems' founder co-authored. Directly comparable as the epicenter of the same software engineering process improvement domain, though not a commercial competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/master-systems-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Master Systems