Support the CMMI Initiatives with Well Designed Measurement Constructs

Support the CMMI Initiatives with Well Designed Measurement Constructs
Agnes E. Nanu
Associate
Booz Allen Hamilton

Introduction:

If you ever found yourself being overwhelmed by the idea of measurement, this is the session for you. Very often we face the question: what evidence do we have that measures are collected and analyzed in a consistent, and repeatable way? Too often, when people are measuring, they don't use the same processes and procedures. In other words, every time when we don't specify how the measures are collected, and analyzed, we leave room for assumptions and interpretations, and such, for errors in our analysis. The fundamental basis for process improvement is to have accurate, and reliable measures. The measurement construct is a simple but very powerful concept that addresses this problem.

Learning Objectives/Outline:

The use of well designed measurement constructs allows us to have more accurate, reliable measures, which are essential for dependable, and repeatable processes, and as such, fundamental for process improvement.

Learn how to implement the PSM key concepts and procedures
Learn how to determine what we need to measure versus what we can measure
Establish key components of a measurement construct according to each type of measure identified (base measure, derived measure, and indicator)
Identify issues and challenges related to the measurement constructs
Learn how to make the measurement constructs part of the measurement and analysis process

Biography:

Mrs. Nanu is an Associate with the Economic and Business Analysis Team of Booz Allen Hamilton. She has a Master in Business Administration from the University of New Orleans, Louisiana, and a Master in Science in Electronics and Telecommunications, from the Polytechnic Institute, Bucharest , Romania .

Ms. Nanu has over 20 years of professional experience in strategic planning, market analysis, contract negotiation, software cost estimation, measurement, performance management, and process improvement. Her other areas of expertise include CMMI, Practical Software Measurement (PSM), and Function Point Analysis (FPA).