Software Development Metrics

Book description

Software Development Metrics is a handbook for anyone who needs to track and guide software development and delivery at the team level, such as project managers and team leads. New development practices, including "agile" methodologies like Scrum, have redefined which measurements are most meaningful and under what conditions you can benefit from them. This practical book identifies key characteristics of organizational structure, process models, and development methods so that you can select the appropriate metrics for your team. It describes the uses, mechanics, and common abuses of a number of metrics that are useful for steering and for monitoring process improvement. The insights and techniques in this book are based entirely on field experience.

About the Technology


About the Book

When driving a car, you are less likely to speed, run out of gas, or suffer engine failure because of the measurements the car reports to you about its condition. Development teams, too, are less likely to fail if they are measuring the parameters that matter to the success of their projects. This book shows you how.

Software Development Metrics teaches you how to gather, analyze, and effectively use the metrics that define your organizational structure, process models, and development methods. The insights and examples in this book are based entirely on field experience. You'll learn practical techniques like building tools to track key metrics and developing data-based early warning systems. Along the way, you'll learn which metrics align with different development practices, including traditional and adaptive methods.



What's Inside
  • Identify the metrics most valuable for your team and process
  • Differentiate "improvement" from "change"
  • Learn to interpret and apply the data you gather
  • Common pitfalls and anti-patterns


About the Reader

No formal experience with developing or applying metrics is assumed.



About the Author

Dave Nicolette is an organizational transformation consultant, team coach, and trainer. Dave is active in the agile and lean software communities.



Quotes
A real boon to those making the transition from a traditional serial development model to an agile one.
- From the Foreword by George Dinwiddie, Software development consultant and coach

Provides a solid foundation for how to start measuring your development teams.
- Christopher W. H. Davis, Nike, Inc.

Measuring is the key to making and consistently hitting scheduling targets. This book will help you confidently build a schedule that is accurate and defensible.
- Shaun Lippy, Oracle Corporation

Product information

  • Title: Software Development Metrics
  • Author(s): David Nicolette
  • Release date: July 2015
  • Publisher(s): Manning Publications
  • ISBN: 9781617291357