Software Metrics: 10 Traps to Avoid

Featuring Author and Consultant Karl Wiegers

Implementing a software metrics program is a challenge. Both the technical and the human aspects of software measurement can be difficult to manage. This presentation examines ten traps that can sabotage the unsuspecting metrics practitioner. Several symptoms of each trap are described, along with several suggested strategies for preventing and dealing with the trap. By staying alert to these common risks, you can chart a course toward successful measurement of your software development activities. The traps discussed are:

Lack of management commitment
Measuring too much too soon
Measuring too little too late
Measuring the wrong things
Imprecise metrics definitions
Using metrics to evaluate individuals
Using metrics to motivate, rather than to understand
Collecting data that is not used
Lack of communication and training
Misinterpreting metrics data

Following the discussion by Karl Wiegers, find out what MKS recommends as the Top 5 Essential Metrics to utilize in your software process improvement initiative.

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Software Metrics: 10 Traps to Avoid