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Grant Rule is a founder and current Managing Director of the SMS Exemplar Group, consisting of SMS Exemplar Ltd and Software Measurement Services Ltd. Grant is a recognised authority in using quantitative methods to continuously improve the quality of the software development process and its products. He is committed to more sustainable ways of managing the creation of value based on the 5-capitals model. He has made a study of what Lean systems thinking means for the relationship between business and IT.
With nearly 40 years experience in the IT industry, Grant’s career has mirrored the growth of IT in the workplace. He has a formidable understanding of the root costs and points of failure in modern business systems. He discovered functional size measurement as a Data Process Manager tasked with finding more effective methods of estimating software projects. Working with Ken Dymond, Grant introduced the Software Engineering Institute’s ‘Capability Maturity Model’ into the UK in 1996, and helped bring to Europe the first public ‘Introduction to the CMMI®’ training. He has contributed to structured methods and to ISO standards, and helped improve the inter-counter consistency of counting practices for IFPUG and MkII Function Point Analysis. He is a member of the COSMIC Core Team which developed the COSMIC size measurement method for 21st century technology. He pioneered the use of iterative development methods in the 1980s, before the term “Agile” was coined. Recent projects include pioneering the use of COSMIC size measurement to manage continuous improvement for a CMMI Level 5 software supplier using Agile project delivery.
Grant is recognized as a thought-leader in the industry, and continues to develop better practices for improved alignment & integration of software-intensive systems with business management. He brings his metrics expertise to bear to provide coaching for the evidence-based decision-making that is essential for generating a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
With Bob Marshall, Grant co-founded the UK Rightshifting Network. Based on the tenet that ‘effectiveness drives efficiency’, this group aims to promote more effective practices across both the private and public sectors, with view to increasing the value delivered to all stakeholders.
Grant is a speaker who brings a wealth of experience, insight and authority to his subject, whether addressing a business or IT practitioner audience. He is a seasoned presenter, with an engaging and entertaining delivery style.
Keywords:
Lean Systems Thinking; Sustainability; Quality; Five Capitals; Functional Size Measurement; Estimating; COSMIC; Agile; CMMI; Business Management; Leadership; Evidence-based decision-making; continuous improvement; effectiveness; efficiency; stakeholder value;