USING METRICS TO MANAGE SOFTWARE PROJECTS

Software project management based on using historical data for planning and current measures for project tracking can provide significant gains in quality, productivity, and schedule predictability. Defect data from inspections and test were key elements of process improvement initiatives that Bull HN Information System's Enterprise Servers Operation in Phoenix, Arizona, started in 1989. By examining data from several projects, project members see how data is used to better understand a development project's dynamics. Feedback from the project metrics is used to improve processes. Feedforward of data enables mid-course analysis and schedule adjustments in a planned manner, rather than in a reactive, firefighting mode. Data collected over a four-year period enabled those managing similar projects to estimate from previous project history and to compare current performance to past experience. By recognizing the pervasiveness of defects in software development and taking steps to count and measure the impacts of defects on schedules and productivity, project managers gained a better understanding of their projects and ultimately manufactured a better product in less time.