SOFTWARE METRICS-TEAM4

Software Metrics

Metrics are management tools which are used to estimate the cost and resource requirements of a project.

In order to conduct a successful software project we must understand the scope of work to be done, the risks incurred, the resources required, the tasks to be accomplished, the milestones to be tracked, the cost, and the schedule to be followed. Project management provides this understanding.

Before a project can be planned, objectives and scope should be established, alternative solutions should be considered, and technical and management constraints should be identified. This information is required to estimate costs, project tasks, and a project schedule.

Metrics help us understand the technical process that is used to develop a product. The process is measured to improve it and the product is measured to increase quality.

Measuring software projects is still controversial. It is not yet clear which are the appropriate metrics for a software project or whether people, processes, or products can be compared using metrics.

Estimates for project cost and time requirements must derived during the planning stage of a project. Experience is often the only guide used to derive these estimates, but it may be insufficient if the project breaks new ground. A number of estimation techniques exist for software development. These techniques consist of establishing project scope, using software metrics based upon past experience are used to generate estimates, and dividing the project into smaller pieces which are estimated individually.