BACKGROUND-Software Process Improvement (SPI) is a systematic approach to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of a software development organization and to enhance software products. OBJECTIVE-This paper aims to identify and characterize evaluation strategies and measurements used to assess the impact of different SPI initiatives. METHOD-The systematic literature review includes 148 papers published between 1991 and 2008. The selected papers were classified according to SPI initiative, applied evaluation strategies, and measurement perspectives. Potential confounding factors interfering with the evaluation of the improvement effort were assessed. RESULTS-Seven distinct evaluation strategies were identified, wherein the most common one, “Pre-Post Comparison,” was applied in 49 percent of the inspected papers. Quality was the most measured attribute (62 percent), followed by Cost (41 percent), and Schedule (18 percent). Looking at measurement perspectives, “Project” represents the majority with 66 percent. CONCLUSION-The evaluation validity of SPI initiatives is challenged by the scarce consideration of potential confounding factors, particularly given that “Pre-Post Comparison” was identified as the most common evaluation strategy, and the inaccurate descriptions of the evaluation context. Measurements to assess the short and mid-term impact of SPI initiatives prevail, whereas long-term measurements in terms of customer satisfaction and return on investment tend to be less used.

/pdf/evaluation-and-measurement-of-software-process-improvement-a-3mqqc927q5.pdf

Evaluation and Measurement of Software Process Improvement—A Systematic Literature Review

Conflicts are an inherent part of organizational life and managers deal with confrontations and conflicts on an almost daily basis. IS implementations are a type of change that often leads to open or hidden conflicts. Managers and others involved can only deal with such conflicts effectively if they understand the nature and causes of information system conflicts (IS conflicts). To contribute to such an understanding, this study focuses on the analysis of IS conflicts. In so doing, it aims to identify various types of IS conflicts and to develop a framework that can be helpful in assessing these conflicts. To this end, we have conducted a meta-ethnographic study – that is, we synthesized earlier case studies in which IS conflicts are described. We purposefully selected 11 descriptions of IS conflicts and we analyzed the topics, contexts, and processes of these conflicts. Based on this analysis, we propose a two-dimensional framework of IS conflicts that leads to a categorization involving four IS conflict types: task, implementation process, structure, and value conflicts. Based on the conflicts that were studied, this paper also reveals that, in reality, many IS conflicts have a hybrid form and develop from one type to another over time.

/pdf/information-system-conflicts-causes-and-types-1wp80te4bd.pdf

Information system conflicts : causes and types

Undoubtedly, measuring artifacts such as development processes, employed resources, intermediate deliverables, and the completed software product itself turns out to be a root discipline for the field of software engineering. Due to its importance, there are supportive documents, guidelines, and experiences with software measurement in industrial software engineering settings that can be a significant aid for organizations willing to shoulder its implementation. But establishing and sustaining a software measurement process in a particular industrial environment is often regarded as a difficult venture; these ventures are not infrequently reported to fail in practice. It is the dedicated task of this research project to address the lack of maturity in implementing and sustaining software measurement processes in software engineering industry through a stepwise process improvement model along the measurement paradigms. In order to tackle that issue, the engineering research path is taken to be able to adopt advantageous features of prior, incomplete attempts to the problem. Part I of the thesis deals with the observation and evaluation of those existing solutions using previously elicited criteria in terms of required contentand model-related properties of software measurement process improvement models. Starting from the evaluation’s results, the most promising of the prior solution attempts is adopted as basis model and its shortcoming is analyzed. Afterwards, in part II a development concept and a design rationale for a process model to overcome the shortcoming of the basis model are proposed, and the complemented SMPI (Software Process Improvement Model) is developed. The SMPI model is then presented graphically using diagrams according to the BPMN (Buisiness Process Modeling Notation) and textually using the EITVOX (Entry criteria Inputs Tasks Validation Outputs Exit criteria) process modeling methodology. Finally, in part III of the dissertation the external case-study validation of the developed SMPI is presented and interpreted by means of statistical test of hypotheses.

The SMPI model: a stepwise process model to facilitate software measurement process improvement along the measurement paradigms.

Conflicts are an inherent part of organizational life and managers deal with confrontations and conflicts on an almost daily basis. Information Systems (IS) implementations are a type of change that often leads to open or hidden conflicts. Managers and others involved can only deal with such conflicts effectively if they understand the nature and causes of information system conflicts (IS conflicts). To contribute to such an understanding, this study focuses on the analysis of IS conflicts. In so doing, it aims to identify various types of IS conflicts and to develop a framework that can be helpful in assessing these conflicts. To this end, we have conducted a meta-ethnographic study – that is, we synthesized earlier case studies in which IS conflicts are described. We purposefully selected 11 descriptions of IS conflicts and we analyzed the topics, contexts, and processes of these conflicts. Based on this analysis, we propose a two-dimensional framework of IS conflicts that leads to a categorization involving four IS conflict types: task; implementation process; structure; and value conflicts. Based on the conflicts that were studied, this paper also reveals that, in reality, many IS conflicts have a hybrid form and develop from one type to another over time. 

Information system conflicts: causes and types

There are strong motivating factors for more effective performance measurement practices in software development. Astute practices in this domain are lauded to improve efficiency and effectiveness. However previous studies have shown that measurement in software is intricate, complex and fraught with challenges. Consequently it is poorly managed in practice. Our research seeks to better understand performance management in a real world software development setting in order to identify the challenges and generate a roadmap for improvement. This paper presents findings from an inductive analysis of a radical measurement program in a global software organization. Our study investigates the level at which non-compliance with best practice can explain the company’s disappointing results. We found that a narrow focus on projects, rather than on organizational goals, has seriously hindered its success. We also found that the rate of change in the organization as a whole was impinging on the effective implementation of its measurement program. An analysis of the results demonstrates just how challenging software measurement is. The findings provide an evaluation of best practice relative to the literature that is informed by real industry experience. 

Towards holistic goal centered performance management in software development: lessons from a best practice analysis

Organisations need to measure the performance of their software development process, in order to control, manage and improve it continuously. Current measurement approaches lack adequate metrics. This work improves software performance measurement with a stakeholder approach that fosters balanced and goal-oriented metrics. This approach has been implemented in a multi-national organisation. The metrics gathered have been actively utilised throughout the organisation for more than one year. The measurement approach has been verified through interviews with key project members.

/pdf/holistic-software-process-performance-measurement-from-the-1i2xbb1osh.pdf

Holistic software process performance measurement from the stakeholders' perspective

Handle everyday research tasks with reliable, citation-backed results

Your personal Research Agent to handle research tasks with citation-backed results

Popular Tasks used by Researchers

How can I help with your research?

Meet SciSpace

Get more enhanced response by uploading the PDFs you want me to reference.

No relevant PDFs in your library

SciSpace is the AI research assistant for academics. Run systematic literature reviews on 280M+ papers, and write papers with cited sources. Trusted by 1M+ students, PhDs & researchers.

SciSpace | AI for Research

Analyze PDFs

Code & Manuscripts

Funding & Grants

Literature & Patents

Medical & Clinical Data

Systematic Review

Visualize & Present

Web & Data

Build a Google Scholar-like website for your research.

Build a website

Create charts and images for your research

Create a Chart

Write a paper for submission to a journal

Draft a manuscript

Patent Search

Design eye-catching scientific posters in minutes.

Scientific Poster Generation

Systematic Literature Review

One task is running at the moment. Your messages will be shown right after.

Drag and drop or click here to browse

Loved by <highlight>1 million+</highlight> researchers

Extract a list of specific topics and their sources from unstructured text

Topics

Compare and analyze relevant papers that matches with your search

Papers

Get insights from PDFs and bookmarked papers from your library

My library

Recent searches

Try searching for:

Catch AI-generated content in scholarly and non-scholarly content

{ai} Detector

Ai Writer

Get PDF Summaries, highlighted text explanations 

Chat with PDF

Effortlessly create in-text citations and bibliographies in APA and 2,500 other formats

Citation generator

Get explanations, summaries, and answers on academic papers

Ease up your research workflow with {scispace}'s cohort of exciting AI tools

Elevate your academic writing skills and convey your ideas the way you want

Paraphraser

Explore our range of reading and writing tools

Your file is being prepared and should be ready in a few minutes. If it's a large file, it might take a bit longer. You can close this window, and we'll email you the file when it's done.

You have reached a maximum limit of <strong>{limit}</strong> columns in the table. Remove at least <strong>1</strong> column to add or create another one.

J. Kapaun

Author Tools

Chat about Author

Papers

Holistic software process performance measurement from the stakeholders' perspective