Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 10
Measurement and Metrics
10.1 Introduction
''What you can't measure, you can't understand, manage or improve'' said a wise
person. It explains succinctly the importance of measurement in the best possible
manner. Measurement allows us to assess the performance in quantitative terms
telling us where we stand comparatively. Without measurement, we can assess the
performance only in subjective terms and it has been proven that subjective
assessments can be erroneous. Measurement facilitates the following advantages:
1. It allows for an objective assessment of progress, and performance.
2. It allows us to compare our performance and benchmark it with other similar
performances.
3. It allows us to set quantitative and fair targets to our resources and measure
their performance against those quantitative targets.
4. It facilitates a fair system of rewards and punishments based on the quantitative
data.
5. It facilitates computation of productivity and thus allows us an opportunity for
productivity improvement and thereby, cost reduction.
All in all measurement is advantageous for the organization and it has come to
be accepted by managements as essential for efficient management and
improvement. Process standards like the ISO 9000 or the CMMI mandate
measurement and analysis as well as using that quantitative data for organizational
management.
10.2 Measurement and Metrics
In software development taxonomy, there is a plethora of terminology. For the
same meaning, there are many terms floating around. No two standards agencies
agree upon the same set of terms for a purpose. So, there is confusion among the
 
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