Measurements should generate value, rather than data

摘要

Success factors for measurement programs as identified in the literature typically focus on the 'internals' of the measurement program. incremental implementation, support from management, a well-planned metrics framework, and soon. However for ameasurement program to be successful within its larger organizational context, it has to generate value for the organization. This implies that attention should also be given to the proper mapping of some identifiable organizational problem onto themeasurement program, as well as the translation back of measurement results to organizational actions. In this paper we present a generic process model for measurement-based improvement, which does cover the latter issues as well. We describe a number ofcommon uses for measurement programs in software organizations, from which we derive additional 'external' success factors. In addition, we propose a number of activities that organizations can use to implement value-generating measurement programs.