List of Metrics


Background

When beginning a process improvement effort in an organization, invariably a project manager or the executive in charge will pull one of us aside and ask, "What metrics should we collect?" We hate that question. We hate it because it shows that the person asking the question has no clue about what process improvement is and generally only wants a "quick fix" for his organization. "Just tell us what to collect, we'll do it, and then we're done." We do not think so. Now, true, this judgment is harsh ; after all, these people are only beginning the process improvement journey. However, one of the first deliverables requested by management from us for any organization is a list of metrics to collect. The managers then mull over the metrics and decide not to collect them anyway because by collecting the metrics, we can really track and report on what is going on in the projects; and heaven knows , we just cannot have that! So, much moaning and groaning takes place "We don't have the people to do this; we don't collect these numbers; we don't need these numbers ; the staff won't stand for it"; and so on. And then, after discussing the pros and cons of each metric, we begin with a very small list. After seeing that metrics really do help an organization (after several very difficult months), the managers are glad that we collect those metrics. Then we begin to suggest that there are more metrics that will help them, and we must begin the battle all over again.

The purpose of metrics is not to drive everybody crazy; rather, it is to look at the numbers as indicators of how your project is doing and how all of the projects are doing. If the numbers are not what you expected, is there a problem? Where did the problem occur? Where was that problem injected originally? Understanding the metrics and what they mean are critical elements for successfully running an organization.




Interpreting the CMMI(c) A Process Improvement Approach
Interpreting the CMMI (R): A Process Improvement Approach, Second Edition
ISBN: 142006052X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 205

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