The IT measurement compendium

More about the book

As projects become more complex, managers often stop learning from their experiences. Understanding this phenomenon and how to change it is crucial. In software development, initial estimates significantly influence managerial decisions throughout a project's lifecycle. For instance, estimates regarding team productivity affect team size, which subsequently impacts actual output. Unfortunately, these initial estimates are frequently inaccurate. This book emphasizes the importance of estimation in software and systems development, advocating that effective management relies on measurable metrics. It offers a compilation of lessons learned from the global metrics community, enriched by the authors' own experiences in software measurement and estimation. The aim is to help readers leverage estimation to enhance their software development processes. The book presents the five ISO/I-acknowledged Functional Sizing Methods, complete with variants, counting rules, and case studies. Importantly, it provides practical examples to demonstrate how functional size measurement can yield realistic estimates. Written for busy practitioners, this resource serves as both a manual and a companion for daily tasks, ensuring that estimation becomes an integral part of successful project management.