Evaluation and Measurement of Software Process Improvement - A Systematic Literature Review
| Document type: | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Article type: | Original article |
| Peer reviewed: | Yes |
| Full text: | |
| Author(s): | Michael Unterkalmsteiner, Tony Gorschek, A.K.M. Moinul Islam, Chow Kian Cheng, Rahadian Bayu Permadi, Robert Feldt |
| Title: | Evaluation and Measurement of Software Process Improvement - A Systematic Literature Review |
| Journal: | IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering |
| Year: | 2012 |
| Volume: | 38 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Pagination: | 398 - 424 |
| ISSN: | 0098-5589 |
| Publisher: | IEEE |
| URI/DOI: | 10.1109/TSE.2011.26 |
| ISI number: | 000301915200010 |
| Organization: | Blekinge Institute of Technology |
| Department: | School of Computing (Sektionen för datavetenskap och kommunikation) School of Computing S-371 79 Karlskrona +46 455 38 50 00 http://www.bth.se/com |
| Authors e-mail: | tony.gorschek@bth.se |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | 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, whereas the most common one, "Pre-Post Comparison", was applied in 49% of the inspected papers. Quality was the most measured attribute (62%), followed by Cost (41%) and Schedule (18%). Looking at measurement perspectives, "Project" represents the majority with 66%. 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. |
| Subject: | Software Engineering\General |
| Keywords: | Process implementation and change, Process measurement, Metrics/Measurement, Systematic Literature Review |
| Note: | http://www.computer.org/portal/web/csdl/doi/10.1109/TSE.2011.26 |
