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Issue: 005  |  September 2007

In this issue

PAPERS

Embedding an ethos of change into company culture.

Pam Morris of Total Metrics presents a case study.

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FPA Public Training

Software Measurement: Practical Use of Function Point Analysis

A two-day workshop giving an introduction to the fundamental principles of software measurement. Participants will learn how to utilize those principles to understand, manage and measure software requirements.

SMS runs this course on

  • IFPUG 4.2 FPA

  • COSMIC FFP

All courses held at the SMS Training Suite, 124 High Street, Edenbridge Kent.

To register contact training@measuresw.com.

27th/28th November 2007: Practical Use of IFPUG 4.2

26th/27th February 2008: Practical Use of COSMIC

27th/28th May 2008: Practical Use of IFPUG 4.2

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Trends in IT Management
Sue Rule, Director of Marketing, SMS Ltd

SMS has seen interest in the Measurement Symposium at the ESEPG grow year on year. The SEI has recently introduced a CMMI Product Suite for Goal-Driven Software Measurement in recognition of the vital role of effective metrics in underpinning improvement programmes.

At this year's European SEPG Conference in June, SMS conducted a survey into the use and planned use of improvement and measurement best practices. Of the 12.3% of delegates who responded, most considered themselves to be at the "intermediate" stage of software process improvement.

In answer to the question "Is process improvement part of your company culture", 45% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed and 45% somewhat agreed - a not unexpected result for a conference on software process improvement.

45% of respondents represented organisations committed to process improvement.

35% represented organisations which were not committed to effective measurement programmes.

However, when it came to measurement, only 35% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "Our organisation collects and applies effective metrics", and 29% somewhat agreed, leaving 35% who were unsure or disagreed.

Why does this matter?

Competition and outsourcing were seen by conference delegates as two of the main challenges for their organisations. Top of the list for things survey respondents felt their organisations should be doing to meet these challenges were :

  • delivering added value
  • improving predictability
  • reducing staff turnover

Functional Size Measurement (FSM) techniques were developed to support:

  • the delivery of defect-free products that represent the value expected by the customer
  • accurate estimation of costs
  • accurate prediction of schedules
  • clear and unambiguous requirement gathering
  • identification of threats and mitigation of risk

In other words, FSM supports the development and maintenance of the right product at the right time for the best price.

There is an old carpenter's adage, "measure twice, build once". If you do not measure the right things using the right tools, you are unlikely to deliver the right results.

...more on the ESEPG 2007

 


   

Forthcoming Events

Software Best Practices Conference

London - 27th September
...more

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Risk Reduction in IT Outsourcing Through Governance

London - 28th September
...more

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SPI and Organisational Factors: Changing Attitudes - Improving Performance EuroSPI 2007

Potsdam - 27th & 28th September
...more

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Software Measurement and Improvement Forum

London - 2nd October
...more

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18th UK Software Metrics Association Conference and Tutorials 

London - 15th & 16th October
...more

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How to create a better partnership between business managers and IT managers

London - 23rd October
...more

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Software Best Practices Conference
27th September

  • How to maximise gains through software process improvement

  • How to increase value by reducing waste and process variability

  • The manufacturing revolution and its relation to IT

  • Ten steps for establishing a Software Measurement programme

  • Understanding & Implementing ITIL

John Riley of Computer Weekly introduces presentations from Grant Rule, MD of Software Measurement Services; Tony Salvaggio, CEO of CAI (Founder of the IT Metrics and Productivity Institute); Dr. Hans Sassenburg, SEI Europe and Mike Harris of David Consulting Group.

...more
Like to know more about using Functional Size Measurement in your organisation?

Don't know where to start?

SMS offers a quick, low-cost trial study.

The FSM Pilot Study offers:

  • An initial discussion to agree the scope, objectives and deliverables of an FSM Pilot Study in the context of your organisation
  • A Kick-Off Workshop to explain the process with the project team(s) selected for inclusion in the pilot study
  • Application of the chosen FSM technique by experienced consulting analysts to the selected project(s)
  • Collection of related data and calculation of derived measurements
  • Presentation of the results of the FSM Pilot Study to the key stakeholders in your organisation, including details of the benefits

SMS is an SEI Partner organisation for Goal-Driven Software Measurement

Contact sales@measuresw.com
t. +44(0)1732 863760 for details

Software Measurement and Improvement Forum

The next SMS SMIF will be held on Tuesday 2nd October at the Intellect offices, Russell Square, London. Attendance free: register your place at http:www.smsexemplar.com/smif

Three speaker presentations will be followed by a buffet lunch and an open-forum discussion of the issues raised.

The theme of this SMIF is Measuring performance: delivering value. Speakers include Carol Drummond and Mark Anning of BT speaking on "Change Happens: Agile delivery in BT". Other speakers will be announced shortly.
events@measuresw.com t. +44(0)1732 863760


ESEPG 2007 Report

By Jill Pritchet, Software Measurement Services Ltd.,

There is no doubt that managing across countries and handling cultural differences can be very problematic and sharing experiences at an event such as the European SEPG can be extremely beneficial. The "hot topics" I found delegates were keen to discuss were most often issues associated with Outsourcing and Cultural Change.

Another issue affecting companies relates to speed of implementation. Regardless of which method or model is being selected, Senior Management always want it done quicker and without impacting the day to day operations. The principles of Lean engineering were therefore of interest to many.

This was the 12th ESEPG Conference and for the second year running it was held in the beautiful city of Amsterdam. There were 385 attendees representing 33 countries around the world and all 5 continents. Over the 4 days there were 30 tutorials and 55 presentations on offer; it was a great opportunity to assess current thinking and practice in a variety of topics which included:

  • Getting started with SPI
  • Measurement
  • People related issues
  • Management of SPI
  • Tools & techniques
  • Outsourcing
  • Merging models; CMMI with Cobit, Six Sigma, ITIL etc.                                                                                       

Finally, you can't attend a CMMI conference without looking at things from the SEI perspective. It was interesting to see a different emphasis this year; I found the SEI was much more willing to collaborate together with other models e.g. Six Sigma, ITIL etc. Finally recognition that there is significant overlap between the models and that all parties can benefit from working together to help businesses with effective process improvement. SLAMSMS Lean and Agile Method for Improvement Teams

Improvement Champion
is published by Software Measurement Services Ltd.
124 High Street Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 5AY

Contact: Sue Rule,Editor
s.rule@measuresw.com
Tel: +44(0)1732 863 760 
Fax: +44(0)1732 864996
For details of all SMS services, together with reference materials, links and news of forthcoming events visit
www.measuresw.com
Copyright Software Measurement Services Ltd 2007. All rights reserved.