Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Measurement is ''A set of operations to determine the value of a measure'' and
measurement result is ''a value determined by performing measurement''—the
same definitions as of the CMMI.
A Metric is ''A function whose inputs are software data and whose output is a
single numerical value that can be interpreted as the degree to which the software
possesses a given quality attribute.'' This is the IEEE definition. To clarify further,
metric is a derived number from one or more measures and other metrics.
Now we have understood all the terms used in measurement n the software
development industry.
Now let us look at benchmarking. IEEE standard 610 Standard Glossary of
Software Engineering Terminology defines benchmark as ''A standard against which
measurements or comparisons can be made'' and benchmarking as ''A procedure,
problem or test that can be used to compare systems of components to each other or to
a standard.''
Thus benchmark is an established quantitative value in the context of
measurement and a standard in other contexts. Benchmarking is the process of
establishing a benchmark. Unfortunately though, we do not have industry standard
benchmarks in our software development industry. We have to establish our own
benchmarks for our organization. Software industry follows the popular adage that
''you are your worst enemy and competitor''!
Having put the terminology in its proper perspective, let us now look at the
metrics that we can use in requirements engineering and management.
10.3 Metrics Relevant to Requirements Engineering
and Management
Do we carry out measurement in software development? Yes, but perhaps not as
diligently as in manufacturing or as one would wish. We measure the following
attributes:
1. Effort spent by all resources using the organizational timesheets. Our measure-
ment will be as good as our timesheet is. Effort is measured normally in person
hours while in a few cases person days are also utilized. A good timesheet that can
support effective measurement program would have:
a. Employee id
b. Cost center/Department id
c. Project id
d. Module id
e. Software Development phase
f. Software Development task
g. Date
h. Starting time
i. Ending time
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