In-Project Learning by Goal-oriented Measurement

Abstract

Measurement is often advocated as a means to get a better grip on software development. Measurement implements a method to gain knowledge of what is happening, and therefore is in fact a learning process. The most common method for software measurement is the Goal/Question/Metric approach (GQM). In the GQM method a systematic approach is represented for tailoring and integrating goals to models of the software processes, products, and quality perspectives of interest, based upon the specific needs of the project and the organization. By using GQM, metrics are defined from a top-down perspective, and analyzed, and interpreted from the bottom up. This interpretation process is a group learning process. GQM trees of goals, questions, and metrics are built on knowledge of the experts in the organization: the developers. Knowledge acquisition techniques are used to capture the implicit models of the developers built during years of experience. Those implicit models give valuable input to the measurement program and are often more important than the available explicit process models. By measuring daily practices of software development, GQM supports learning processes within software projects.