Measuring process consistency: implications for reducing software defects

In this paper, an empirical study that links software process consistency with product defects is reported. Various measurement issues such as validity, reliability, and other challenges in measuring process consistency at the project level are discussed. A measurement scale for software process con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on software engineering 1999-11, Vol.25 (6), p.800-815
Main Authors: Krishnan, M.S., Kellner, M.I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Computer programs
Consistency
Coordinate measuring machines
Costs
Defects
Empirical analysis
Goal setting
Links
Measurement
R&D
Reliability
Research & development
Scheduling
Service marks
Software
Software development
Software development management
Software engineering
Software maintenance
Software measurement
Software performance
Software quality
Software systems
Studies
Systems development
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Description
Summary:In this paper, an empirical study that links software process consistency with product defects is reported. Various measurement issues such as validity, reliability, and other challenges in measuring process consistency at the project level are discussed. A measurement scale for software process consistency is introduced. An empirical study that uses this scale to measure consistency in achieving the CMM goal questions in various key process areas (KPAs) in 45 projects at a leading software vendor is reported. The results of this analysis indicate that consistent adoption of practices specified in the CMM is associated with a lower number of defects. Even a relatively modest improvement in the consistency of implementing these practices is associated with a significant reduction in field defects.
ISSN:0098-5589
1939-3520
DOI:10.1109/32.824401