Anita D. Carleton Bücher

Improvement programs often falter when they focus on the wrong problems or repeatedly apply ineffective solutions, highlighting the need for an objective perspective and data-driven insights. This book demonstrates how to leverage measurements to enhance software processes, drawing on research from the Software Engineering Institute and other organizations. The authors detail how to quantify, plot, and analyze quality characteristics of software products and processes, enabling the prediction and control of software development activities to meet business and technical objectives. The measurement methods, grounded in statistical quality control principles, are illustrated with industry examples. While applicable to individual projects, the primary emphasis is on the steps organizations can take for long-term success. It specifically caters to software managers and practitioners who have established basic measurement processes and are ready to advance by collecting and analyzing software data for informed decision-making and performance prediction. Key highlights include developing a framework for measuring process behavior, discussions on performance and improvement, guidance on what to measure and data collection, and instructions for implementing statistical process control. This resource is essential for those responsible for product quality or process performance, ready to utilize measurements effectively.