Overview
PSM provides you with a way to realize the significant benefits of a software measurement program, while understanding and avoiding the risks involved with a “blind jump.” You’ll find this book a worthwhile starting point for your future software measurement initiatives, as well as a source of continuing guidance as you chart your way through the sea of complex opportunities ahead.
—Barry Boehm, from the Foreword
Objective, meaningful, and quantifiable measurement is critical to the successful development of today’s complex software systems. Supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and a rapidly increasing number of commercial practitioners, Practical Software Measurement (PSM) is a process for designing and implementing a project-based software measurement program. PSM provides essential information on scheduling, resource allocation, and technological performance. It enables software managers and developers to make decisions that will affect the project’s outcome positively.
This book is the official, definitive guide to PSM written by the leaders of the PSM development initiative. It describes the principles and practices for developing, operating, and continuously improving your organization’s measurement program. It uses real-world examples to illustrate practical solutions and specific measurement techniques. This book examines the foundations of a software measurement program in depth, defining and prioritizing information needs, developing a project-specific information model, tailoring a process model to integrate measurement activities, and analyzing and understanding the results.
Specific topics include:
- The relationship between project- and organizational-level measurement
- Defining an information-driven, project-specific measurement plan
- Performing measurement activities and collecting data
- The basics of data analysis, including estimation, feasibility analysis, and performance analysis
- Evaluating the effectiveness of the measurement processes and activities
- Sustaining organizational commitment to a measurement program
- Key measurement success factors and best practices
In addition, this book includes numerous detailed examples of measurement constructs typically applied to software projects, as well as two comprehensive case studies that illustrate the implementation of a measurement program in different types of projects. With this book you will have the understanding and information you need to realize the significant benefits of PSM as well as a guide for a long-term, organization-wide measurement program.
PSM is founded on the contributions and collaboration of key practitioners in the software measurement field. The initiative was established in 1994 by John McGarry and is currently managed by Cheryl Jones. Both are civilians employed by the U.S. Army. David Card is an internationally known software measurement expert, and is with the Software Productivity Consortium. Beth Layman, Elizabeth Clark, Joseph Dean, and Fred Hall have been primary contributors to PSM since its inception.
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This book examines in depth the foundations of a software measurement program: defining and prioritizing information needs, developing a project-specific information model, tailoring a process model to integrate measurement activities, and analyzing and understanding the results.
Synopsis
Practical Software Management (PSM) is a process for designing and implementing a project-based software measurement program. This text for software managers and developers describes such aspects of the process as defining and prioritizing information needs, developing a project-specific information model, integrating measurement activities, and analyzing the results. The volume also includes two comprehensive case studies demonstrating the implementation of a measurement program in different types of projects. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)