Abstract
Metrics definition and analysis method selection is often not accorded due importance. Metrics and analysis methods are routinely selected to satisfy requirements of software process improvement frameworks such as CMMI. Considerable time and effort is spent in collecting metrics and analyzing them without realizing the benefits of the measurement and analysis effort. This may be attributed to inadequate understanding of the link between the selected metrics and the underlying processes. The inappropriate selection of analysis method may also be due to lack of understanding about the desired monitoring and control actions. This paper discusses the benefits of choosing appropriate metrics and analysis method based on observations in several organizations. It also discusses the pitfalls of choosing wrong metrics.
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Abbreviations
- CMMI:
-
Capability maturity model integration
- GQM:
-
Goal question metric
- IFPUG:
-
International function point users group
- PMI:
-
Project management institute
- RYG:
-
Red yellow green
- SCAMPI:
-
Standard CMMI appraisal method for process improvement
- SEPG:
-
Software engineering process group
References
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Basili VR, Caldiera G, Rombach HD (1994) Goal question metric approach, encyclopedia of software engineering. Wiley, New York, pp 528–532
Deming WE (1986) Out of the Crisis. MIT Center for Advanced Engineering Study, Cambridge
Shewhart WA (1939) Statistical method from the viewpoint of quality control. Dover, New York
Related works
Florac WA, Park RE, Carleton AD (1997) Practical software measurement: measuring for process management and improvement. Software Engineering Institute, CMU, Pittsburgh
Florac WA, Carleton AD (1999). Measuring the Software Process: Statistical Process Control for Software Process Improvement, The SEI Series in Software Engineering
Kan SH (2006) Metrics and Models in Software Quality Engineering, Pearson Education
Park RE, Goethert WB, Florac WA (1996) Goal-driven software measurement—A guidebook. Software Engineering Institute, CMU, Pittsburgh
Southekal PH (2011) A Measurement Framework for Software Projects, Trafford Publishing