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Measurement |
O X F O R D S O F T W A R E E N G I N
E E R I N G |
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Deeper insight, increased confidence
and better decisions for lower cost by:
Implementing effective
software and systems measurement
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Measurement is important: It is a fundamental tool for better
understanding of complex work and systems, and for communicating that
understanding. It is integral to development and to good management and
control. Yet for something so useful, pervasive and apparently commonplace
measurement itself is strangely elusive. Defining new measures can be
difficult, and introducing them is notorious for its expense, lack of value,
and unintended and undesirable effects. Measurement of software has enormous
promise but, like software development itself, is still evolving and has a
long way to go to reach its full potential. Data are often of uncertain
quality and statistical or graphical analyses can fail to deliver the clarity
and decision making capability expected of them. Those involved in measurement work, or
simply wishing to use measurement within their projects or organizations face
a number of hurdles: there are few accessible or easy to use standards or
guidelines for software measurement, and little credible data for useful
comparison. The little that is available needs careful review and filtering
and is often lacking essential elements. Those wanting data often have to design
measures and analyses for themselves, falling back on their experience of
measurement from other areas or contexts, or relying on ‘shrink wrapped’
solutions or tools. Sometimes this works well (usually when it is kept
very simple) but frequently disappoints. Even worse it can appear to
work but doesn’t: the measures or analyses are flawed, misleading those
trying to use them. It is no surprise that many developers and managers are
sceptical of the value of measurement, relegating it to an administrative
overhead. But when it is understood, when the right
methods and tools are used it comes good. It becomes a surprisingly low cost,
lightweight, and elegant but powerful tool for investigation, analysis and
control. The characteristics of good measurement are its apparent simplicity
and obviousness, and the trust and confidence it encourages. It generates
sound, credible information to improve your understanding and decision
making. Let us help you get better decision
making and control with software measurement We are specialists
in the design, implementation and revision of operational measurement systems
and the design of software measurement analyses. If you want: -
increased confidence in your measurement data, -
better decision making, -
reduced data collection and analysis costs, -
to know how well your existing measurement systems are
performing, -
to develop or redevelop your own software measurement tools
and systems, please do contact
us. We have more than twenty years experience
in the application of measurement to software development including: -
initiating and managing major measurement initiatives in industry, -
defining and introducing measures and analyses for software project
management, estimation, software, software development and test reporting –
including metrics for CMM and CMMI, -
the use and development of software measurement design and implementation
methods and tools (including GQM (Vic Basili’s ‘Goal Question Metric’
framework), ami (the application of metrics in industry), the CMMI’s
Measurement and Analysis PA (partly GQM in another guise), and our own
‘measurement maturity model’, -
investigation of novel software measures and methods, measurement theory and
measurement dysfunction. We can help you at every stage from
identifying your information needs through to better decision making. CCS March 2009/
April 2010/August 2010 |
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© Copyright OSEL 2010 |
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