The precursor to an industrial software metrics program

A common reason for why software metric programs dasiafailpsila is through lack of participant support and commitment. In this paper, we describe the results of a study which examined the knowledge that subjects had and the opinions they had formed of previous metrics initiatives in the same organization. The research was undertaken by one of the authors as a precursor to a planned metrics initiative in the same large, UK-based company. The study attempted to understand the likely issues that would have to be addressed by that planned metrics program. A key theme to emerge from the analysis was the importance of all participants being aware of the program objectives, and the purpose and use of the data being collected. As part of the analysis, the study also draws on the role that "timely" involvement plays within a metrics program and how that can influence its associated practicalities

Understanding Manager and Developer Perceptions of the Relative Advantage, Compatibility, and Complexity of Function Points and Source Lines of Code

Software measures are recommended for the effective management of software development projects. Innovation diffusion theory (IDT) provides perspective for understanding managers’ and software developers’ perceptions of the relative advantage, complexity, and compatibility of software measures. This paper describes the results of a survey in which software developers and managers identified a software measure and then answered IDT-based questions about the measure. Two of the most commonly identified measures were source lines of code (SLOC) and function points (FP). Overall, participants indicated that FP have greater relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity than SLOC. Developers indicated that FP have greater relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity than SLOC. Managers, however, did not perceive a significantly greater relative advantage and compatibility for FP over SLOC, but did perceive FP to be more complex than SLOC

Critical Issues In Software Quality Assurance: An Exploratory Study

Recent reviews of the Software Quality Assurance (SQA) literature expose that in most organizations, systems development is characterized by recurrent problems, such as poor system quality.  The conclusions of these reviews is that SQA efforts have failed due primarily to their failure to adequately address the linkages between the organizational and process aspects of quality assurance in software development projects.  As an initial step in identifying and understanding the linkages between the organizational and process aspects of SQA, the authors conducted an exploratory study to elicit a set of issues critical to the assurance of delivering reliable software

Towards holistic goal centered performance management in software development: lessons from a best practice analysis

There are strong motivating factors for more effective performance measurement practices in software development. Astute practices in this domain are lauded to improve efficiency and effectiveness. However previous studies have shown that measurement in software is intricate, complex and fraught with challenges. Consequently it is poorly managed in practice. Our research seeks to better understand performance management in a real world software development setting in order to identify the challenges and generate a roadmap for improvement. This paper presents findings from an inductive analysis of a radical measurement program in a global software organization. Our study investigates the level at which non-compliance with best practice can explain the company’s disappointing results. We found that a narrow focus on projects, rather than on organizational goals, has seriously hindered its success. We also found that the rate of change in the organization as a whole was impinging on the effective implementation of its measurement program. An analysis of the results demonstrates just how challenging software measurement is. The findings provide an evaluation of best practice relative to the literature that is informed by real industry experience

Metrics-based control in outsourced software development projects

Measurements have been recognised as vital instruments to improve control in outsourced software development projects. However, project managers are still struggling with the design and implementation of effective measurement programs. One reason for this is that although there is a large body of research literature on metrics, practical guidelines for choosing among concrete measurements are scarce. The authors address this gap between research and practice by synthesising knowledge from frameworks and guidelines presented in the software process improvement (SPI) literature. The contribution comprises a framework that provides a set of measurements (selected from the research literature) for control of software development in cooperative settings, and a set of principles and guidelines for the design of an information infrastructure that provides managers with control information. As implication for research, the authors identify the need to develop new theories of SPI through the lens of inter-organisational networks, and taking into account relevant practices from the world of open-source software development. Also lessons for managers of outsourced software development projects are discussed. The results have been validated via expert interviews and by a panel of experts

Rethinking the Concept of Commitment in Software Process Improvement

Literature and practice has agreed that commitment plays an important role in software process improvement (SPI)[1] initiatives. However, the concept of commitment has not been seriously researched in the SPI community. This paper seeks to provide a synthesis of contemporary commitment literature – giving SPI research and practice a new perspective on the phenomenon. It is shown that current thinking relies on models of commitment that are flawed in both academic and practical sense. Namely, four misconceptions [2] are identified in current thinking: 1) the assumption of causality in the human cognitive processes, i.e., commitment in this case), 2) the controllability of this process, 3) the notion of a singular commitment construct, and 4) the idea that commitment is an all-positive phenomenon. Implications of these findings for SPI research and practice are discussed