Improving presentations of software metrics indicators using visualization techniques

摘要

To monitor and control software projects,companies develop and invest in measurementsystems. A core component of measurementsystems are the indicators (main measurements).Visualizing indicators can efficientlycommunicate the information to the users if donecorrectly, or mislead the users if not doneproperly. Indicators presentation andvisualization is a topic that requires specialattention due to the overwhelming informationthat the users receive and the lack of overviewsolutions that drive users in missing the “bigpicture”.In this master thesis visualization techniques forpresenting indicators are evaluated. As a resultof this evaluation the most appropriate methodsfor presenting indicators are identified.Prototypes of visualizing indicators aredeveloped and evaluated through interviews withengineers from a unit of a large global softwaredevelopment company in the Gothenburg region.The prototypes provide the users with fourdifferent solutions for presenting indicators. Thisstudy is performed at the IT University ofGöteborg with a case study at the company.