Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!samsung!olivea!apple!netcomsv!jls From: jls@netcom.COM (Jim Showalter) Newsgroups: comp.software-eng Subject: Re: Metrics Example Message-ID: <1991May23.231339.22418@netcom.COM> Date: 23 May 91 23:13:39 GMT References: <24600@unix.SRI.COM> Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services UNIX System {408 241-9760 guest} Lines: 21 >> I seized on metrics as the answer to my problems. If I could get the >> managers to show me various metric data, then *I* could interpret it my >> own way and make my opinions! >But why should your opinions be any better than theirs? His weren't necessarily better. However, what he determined was that the managers didn't have any data to back up their own opinions. Thus, at the outset of the exercise, prior to the introduction of any metrics, all opinions were of equivalent validity/nonvalidity. It was the introduction of the metrics--and ONLY that--that provided a framework in which opinions could be tested against real measures. Until the metrics were introduced, "Yeah, we're on schedule" was it as far as insight into the project was concerned. This went away very quickly when it was possible to say "Well, you say we're on schedule, but according to this chart we're not". -- **************** JIM SHOWALTER, jls@netcom.com, (408) 243-0630 **************** *Proven solutions to software problems. Consulting and training on all aspects* *of software development. Management/process/methodology. Architecture/design/* *reuse. Quality/productivity. Risk reduction. EFFECTIVE OO usage. Ada/C++. *