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Slide 1: Project Support Toolkit We manage things "by the numbers" in many aspects of our lives. These numbers give us insight and help steer our actions. Software metrics extend the concept of "managing by the numbers" into the realm of software development. The software industry still isn't doing a very good job at managing by the numbers. Oftentimes, software projects are managed by just three metrics: project schedule and effort and critical defects found during testing This is a flatland view for a multi-dimensional terrain problem: "flying a plane using only a watch and a fuel gauge". Many other useful metrics are ignored, but must be in the equation as well. When quantitative information is missing, management is like an emperor without clothes: decisions are not based on facts but on intuition. In addition, improvement initiatives result in satisfying standards/models instead of tangibly improving measured capability. Getting too little or too much data is easy, identifying the relevant data and converting it to meaningful information for everyone is the challenge Management needs the ability to step back from the details and see the bigger, complete picture. Dashboards or cockpits with the right information perform that function. The Project Support Toolkit provides powerful instruments to project managers and measurements specialists to plan, monitor and control their projects on a more detailed level, using the same set of KPIs as in the Project Reporting Cockpit. Download a free trial version at www.se-cure.ch/Downloads.html! © 2009, SE-CURE AG. All rights reserved.
Slide 2: Features Summary The Project Support Toolkit provides powerful instruments to project managers and measurements specialists to plan, monitor and control their projects on a more detailed level, using the same set of KPIs as in the Project Reporting Cockpit. Historical Data: - Template for entering historical data of past projects for all KPIs. Minimum, median, average, and maximum values are calculated automatically. Retrieval of Model Parameters: - The historical data is used to retrieve the model parameters for both the Putnam SLIM Model (Process Productivity Parameter and Manpower Buildup Parameter or staffing rate) and COCOMO II (Effort Multiplier and sum of Scale Factors). 1 Scenario Analysis: - Different scenarios may be defined for making a comparative analysis. For the Putnam SLIM Model, 3 scenarios can be defined for the Process Productivity Parameter and 3 scenarios for the Manpower Buildup Parameter. For COCOMO II, 3 scenarios can be defined for the Effort Multiplier (cost drivers) and scale factors. In addition, three scenarios can be defined for the estimated product size. For each combination of scenarios (size versus model parameters), the following outputs are calculated: schedule, effort, average team size and productivity. A comparative analysis is made between the outputs of the Putnam SLIM Model and COCOMO II. Conversion Tables: - Conversion tables are given for converting lines of code in different programming languages to function points. Benchmarking Data: - Industry benchmarking data is given for nearly all KPIs. Distinction is made between four product types: commercial software, management information systems, systems software and military software. The functionality offered so far allows organizations to analyse their historical data and compare different scenarios for a new project. The Putnam SLIM Model and COCOMO II can be used to find the optimal and most realistic estimates for schedule and effort (derived: average team size and productivity). Benchmarking data can be used to find realistic estimates for the different KPIs in case the availability of historical data is limited. 1 The formulas used have been widely published. The Project Support Toolkit must not be considered a substitute for the products of QSM, Inc. (www.qsm.com) and CSSE (http://csse.usc.edu/csse). © 2009, SE-CURE AG. All rights reserved.
Slide 3: The additionally offered functionality can be used to actively monitor a project’s progress. Project Performance: This KPI category allows one to plan a project. Initially, two steps are necessary: 1. Effort Planning. Standard project activities are listed. For each of these activities, the planned effort per month must be supplied. 2. Milestone Definition. Important milestones must be defined as well the planned date they will be reached. During the course of the project, actual data can be entered, consisting of: - Effort spent so far. - Estimated effort to complete activities. - Expected milestone dates. From these inputs, the progress is analysed for both effort (summarized in tables and graphs) and milestone trends (graph). Process Efficiency: This KPI category summarizes the planned and actual effort per project activity. From this, the ratios between the following activity categories (using a cost of quality perspective) are automatically derived: - Core (Requirements, Architecture, Design, Coding, …); - Support (Project management, Configuration management, …); - Prevention (inspections, reviews); - Appraisal, rework (testing, defect removal). Product Scope: This KPI category allows the planning and monitoring of product volume, expressed in features and size. Planned and actual values are graphically displayed, including a comparative analysis. Product Quality: This KPI category allows the planning and monitoring of product quality, expressed in complexity (architecture and/or code level), test coverage (unit testing, integration testing, system testing), defect density and removal efficiency. Planned and actual values are graphically displayed, including a comparative analysis. Comparison: Finally, planned and actual values for all KPIs are summarized and compared. Download a free trial version at www.se-cure.ch/Downloads.html! © 2009, SE-CURE AG. All rights reserved.
Slide 4: Screen samples: © 2009, SE-CURE AG. All rights reserved.
Slide 5: © 2009, SE-CURE AG. All rights reserved.
Slide 6: Further Information In this standard version of the Project Support Toolkit, the KPI categories and their KPIs are pre-programmed. These categories and KPIs represent current best practice in industry. In case of any questions, please feel free contacting us (sales@se-cure.ch). We also offer customized solutions, which address your specific needs. In that case, we need to learn more about your wishes. We can very easily configure a toolkit that incorporates those KPIs that will help you best at managing your projects. Other Products SE-CURE AG also offers the following products: “Project Reporting Cockpit”. This product enables you to define and monitor a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for your software project. Historical, target and actual values are displayed in overviews and charts, from which information can be consumed at a glance. “CMMI® Appraisal Recorder”. This product supports both SCAMPIsm and internal appraisal teams in recording their CMMI® (version 1.2) appraisal findings and (configurable) scores for all process areas considered. Results are summarized in tables and bar/radar charts. “Business Case Analyser”. This product enables you to specify a business case, comparing two alternatives. By specifying (primary/secondary) benefits and (direct/indirect) costs over a span of years for both alternatives, four benchmarks (NPV, ROI, Payback Period, IRR) are calculated automatically and graphically displayed. This allows you deciding instantly which alternative is most attractive. Your decisions will become fact-based. - - For more information, visit our website at www.se-cure.ch/Products.html. © 2009, SE-CURE AG. All rights reserved.