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The Grant Rule Trust
Lean metrics guru, founder and inspiration of SMS, P. Grant Rule suffered a fatal heart attack while out sailing on 23 October 2011. He was a truly remarkable man, who will be sadly missed by many.

Grant’s wife Sue, and his daughters Lyndsey and Helen, feel it is unthinkable that his sudden and tragically early loss should rob us of his unique ability to bring people and ideas together to create wonderful things. With this in mind, we have founded The Grant Rule Trust....more on http://www.grantrule.org

In the meantime, the SMS team are committed to building on Grant’s ground-breaking work in quantitative methods. The current issue of Improvement Champion includes some of Grant’s presentations on improving delivery of value from software intensive systems, and news of forthcoming events SMS is supporting.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Three Dangerous Myths of Efficiency.

Myth 1:

Efficiency means reducing costs

Reality:

Efficiency means maximising value

Myth 2:

Efficiency means cutting staff

Reality:

Efficiency means getting the most out of your people

Myth 3:

Efficiency means people working harder/longer

Reality:

Efficiency means working smarter


	What is your reality? Is your organisation cutting costs, cutting staff, and asking people to work harder? Or are you being more efficient? More…

Publications

Predictable Pricing for Agile Delivery.

Download a pdf copy of Grant Rule’s slides prepared for the International Software Metrics & Estimating Conference in October 2011

Download PDF >>

Rules Relative Size Scale.

Our quick and easy guide to early software size estimating.

Download PDF >>

Reducing Risk in Outsourcing.

Grant Rule’s presentation looking at how to mitigate the threats associated with IT outsourcing.

Download PDF >>

Events

	Contracting for Agile Software Development 21st March 2012, 2pm-5pm, followed by drinks reception and network - Central London, Intellect Conference Centre. In March 2011, the Institute of Government cited Agile as a recommended new approach to delivering the value needed from software projects. This seminar hosted by Intellect’s Offshore and Outsourcing Group explores the nature of Agile and the implications for adopting it in an established outsourcing relationship. More info >>

	Every CIO's Guide to Effective Risk Management 18th April 2012, 2pm-4.30pm Central London - British Library Conference Centre Good risk "habits" will allow your business to respond rapidly and confidently to change. This one-day executive seminar takes an objective look at the risks associated with IT applications and software projects, and offers practical guidance on how to maximise your chances of delivering business benefits. More Info >>

	SPIN London: Effective Risk Management 15th May 2012, 6pm-8.30pm Central London - RSA House Good risk management starts early. This SPIN evening will be discussing how software project risk can be mitigated by good requirements management and accurate estimating. More info >>

Training training@smsexemplar.com

Managing Software Costs and Value for Money 27th March 2012, 9.00am-5.00pm, Intellect Conference Suite, Russell Square House. SMS Managing Consultant Chris Woodward presents a 1-day public workshop on controlling software costs through better estimating and measurement practice. Details >>

Practical Use of COSMIC Available as a 2-day in-house course or 4 on-line sessions. An extra day/session on estimating practice can be added to this course for those wishing to use COSMIC in this context. Details >>

Practical Use of IFPUG Available as a 2-day in-house course or 4 on-line sessions. Details >>

Uses and Benefits of Functional Size Measurement A 1-day management overview discussing the business advantages delivered by objective and comparative measures of software size. Details >>

Library


	Presentations, papers, webinars, articles and case studies can be downloaded from the SMS Reference Library at www.smsexemplar.com/library