Using Measurements to Understand, Predict, and Report the Impact of Process Deviations on End Product Delivery 
Patricia Lyles, PMP
Computer Sciences Corporation

Introduction:

During a past assignment on a mid-size government project, formal metrics were implemented for both development and testing. The data was successfully used to manage both the staff productivity and the client expectations.

In recent experience on a large scale government modernization program, Ms. Lyles participated in the development and implementation of a test metrics program to provide quantitative status on test planning and execution. Although development metrics generated on this program were not implemented as rigorously as the test metrics, there is a case to be made on the benefit of having a rigorous and dynamic quantitative feedback mechanism throughout the lifecycle.

The goal is to present specific examples supporting strategic importance of a well-defined lifecycle metrics program, and recommend a approaches for the implementation of a measurement program.

Participants will learn:

• Develop greater clarity on why metrics are of benefit for managing to the triple constraint - cost scope and schedule
• Understand the benefit of using metrics to support risk/issue avoidance, and for risk/issue mitigation
• Compare methods for demonstrating the benefit of measurements to stakeholders
• Analyze sample formats and content for metrics data collection
• Establish guidelines for determining the level of complexity needed
• Review options for collection, reporting, and analysis – simple to complex

Outline:

• Overview Development Lifecycle
• The Ideal scenario
• The Real Life scenario
• Risks and Issues that threaten project success
• How measures can benefit project management through each stage
• Small correction now
• Large correction later
• How can measures be gradually put in place
• Getting buy-in and generating interest
• From your team
• From your stakeholders
• Collection and reporting
• Integration with CMMI specific goals and practices
• Where to see immediate results a minimal investment
• Establish basics
• Plan for refinement
• How to invest additional measurement resources
• Consider the project
• Assess the risk potential
• Samples of measurement data reports
• Basic and complex
• Supporting processes
• Level of effort
• How to get started
• During project start-up
• During a lifecycle phase
• Summary

Biography:

Patricia Lyles, PMP is a Program Manager, within the Financial and Tax Administration Solutions business area of CSC's North American Public Sector. Throughout her more than 25 years in the software development profession, Ms. Lyles has provided management and leadership leading to the success of several challenging projects.

Ms. Lyles has provided her expertise to several projects in roles spanning the full extent of the lifecycle: process analysis, software estimation, requirements engineering, and testing for clients at the Department of Defense, Department of the State, the Department of Interior, NASA and the IRS.

In 2000, Ms. Lyles was a charter member of a team that defined the integration test and deployment role, guidelines and processes for a large-scale government program. These initial efforts formed the basis for further refinement of the verification and validation approach into a synergistic, repeatable framework, later revised and incorporated as part of the client process library.