Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

How Does a Measurement Programme Evolve in Software Organizations?

  • Conference paper
Product-Focused Software Process Improvement (PROFES 2008)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 5089))

Abstract

Establishing a software measurement programme within an organization is not a straightforward task. Previous literature surveys have focused on software process improvement in general and software measurement has been analysed in case studies. This literature survey collects the data from separate cases and presents the critical success factors that are specific to software measurement programmes. We present a categorization of the success factors based on organizational roles that are involved in measurement. Furthermore, the most essential elements of success in different phases of the life cycle of the measurement programme are analysed. It seems that the role of upper management is crucial when starting measurement and the individual developers’ impact increases in the later phases. Utilization of the measurement data and improvement of the measurement and development processes requires active management support again.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Kan, S.H.: Metrics and Models in Software Quality Engineering. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1995)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Rainer, A., Hall, T.: A quantitative and qualitative analysis of factors affecting software process improvement. Journal of Systems and Software 66(1), 7–21 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fenton, N.E., Neil, M.: Software Metrics: Roadmap. In: Proceedings of The Future of Software Engineering, pp. 357–370 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dyba, T.: An empirical investigation of the key factors for success in software process improvement. Transactions on Software Engineering 31(5), 410–424 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gopal, A., Mukhopadhyay, T., Krishnan, M.S.: The Impact of Institutional Forces on Software Metrics Programs. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 31(8) 679–694 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pfleeger, S.: Lessons learned in Building a Corporate Metrics Program. IEEE Software 10, 67–74 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hall, T., Fenton, N.: Implementing Effective Software Metrics Programs. IEEE Software 14(2), 55–65 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Iversen, J., Mathiassen, L.: Cultivation and Engineering of a Software Metrics Program. Info Systems Journal 13(1), 3–19 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Briand, L., Differding, C., Rombach, D.: Practical Guidelines for Measurement-based Process Improvement. Software Process Improvement and Practice 2(4), 253–280 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Dekkers, C.A.: The Secrets of Highly Successful Measurement Programs. Cutter IT Journal 12(4), 29–35 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Herbsleb, J.D., Grinter, R.E.: Conceptual Simplicity Meets Organizational Complexity: Case Study of a Corporate Metrics Program. In: Proceedings o the International Conference on Software Engineering, pp. 271–280 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kitchenham, B., Kutay, C., Jeffery, R., Connaughton, C.: Lessons learnt from the analysis of large-scale corporate databases. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE 2006), pp. 439–444 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Niessink, F., van Vliet, H.: Measurements Should Generate Value, Rather than Data. In: Proceedings of the IEEE Metrics Symposium, pp. 31–38 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Frederiksen, H.D., Mathiassen, L.: Information-Centric Assessment of Software Metrics Practices. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 52(3), 350–362 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Berry, M., Jeffery, R.: An Instrument for Assessing Software Measurement Programs. Empirical Software Engineering An International Journal 5(3), 183–200 (2000)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  16. Latum, F., Solingen, R., Oivo, M., Hoisl, B., Rombach, H.D., Ruhe, G.: Adopting GQM-Based Measurement in an Industrial Environment. IEEE Software, 78–86 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Basili, V., Weiss, D.: A Methodology for Collecting Valid Software Engineering Data. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering SE10(6), 728–738 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Basili, V., Caldiera, G., Rombach, D.: Goal Question Metric Paradigm. In: Marciniak, J.J. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Software Engineering, vol. 1, pp. 528–532. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Niessink, F., van Vliet, H.: Measurement program success factors revisited. Information & Software Technology 43(10), 617–628 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Berander, P., Jönsson, P.: A goal question metric based approach for efficient measurement framework definition. In: Proceedings of the Fifts ACM-IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering (ISESE), pp. 316–325 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Johnson, P.M., Kou, H., Paulding, M.G., Zhang, Q., Kagawa, A., Yamashita, T.: Improving Software Development Management through Software Project Telemetry. IEEE Software 22(4), 76–85 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Mendonça, M.G., Basili, V.R.: Validation of an Approach for Improving Existing Measurement Frameworks. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 26(6), 484–499 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Rogers, E.M.: Diffusion of innovations, 4th edn. Free Press, New York (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Anand, V., Manz, C.C., Glick, W.H.: An organizational memory approach to information management. Academy of Management Review 23(4), 796–809 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Stein, E.W.: Organizational memory: review of concepts and recommendations for management. International Journal of Information Management 15(2), 17–32 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Daskalantonakis, M.K.: A Practical View of Software Measurement and Implementation Experiences Within Motorola. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 18(11), 998–1010 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Basili, V., Heidrich, J., Lindvall, M., Munch, J., Regardie, M., Trendowicz, A.: GQM + Strategies - Aligning Business Strategies with Software Measurement. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement (ESEM 2007), Madrid, Spain (2007)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Processing Science, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, FIN-90014, OULUN YLIOPISTO,  

    Lasse Harjumaa, Jouni Markkula & Markku Oivo

Authors
  1. Lasse Harjumaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jouni Markkula
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Markku Oivo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Andreas Jedlitschka Outi Salo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Harjumaa, L., Markkula, J., Oivo, M. (2008). How Does a Measurement Programme Evolve in Software Organizations?. In: Jedlitschka, A., Salo, O. (eds) Product-Focused Software Process Improvement. PROFES 2008. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 5089. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-69566-0_20

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-69566-0_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-69564-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-69566-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation