This tutorial covers AKA area #10 of the International Software Process Improvement Certification (ISPIC) requirements.

The purpose of Software Measurement and Analysis (M&A) is to develop and sustain a measurement capability that is used to support an organizations management information needs. The information needs may be at the process, project, or product level. This includes specifying and implementing the measures, data collection, analysis, and reporting of the data.

Measurement and Analysis (M&A) can provide an organization with objective, measurable results that can be used, throughout the life cycle, in making informed decisions, and taking appropriate corrective actions.

This seminar was designed to provide the Software Process Improvement professional with the detailed and specific knowledge needed to perform effectively.

• An introduction to the specific goals and practices in setting up and implementing a Measurement and Analysis activity. This includes (1) establishing measurement objectives, (2) specifying measures to address the objectives, (3) data collection, and (4) how the measurement data will be analyzed and reported.
• A set of government/industry “best practices” measurements with numerous examples, variations, and case studies. These measurements can be used throughout the software life-cycle to provide objective results needed to make informed decisions.
• An understanding of the widely used Goal, Question, Metric (GQM) paradigm for determining and systematically developing tailored measurements to support an organizations information needs. This includes class exercises in setting specific organizational goals, and developing the measurements needed to evaluate if the goals have been met.

• Why we need Measurement and Analysis
• The purpose and objectives of Measurement and Analysis
• Activities supported by Measurement and Analysis
• Measurement and Analysis Process Models
• Specific goals and practices of Measurement and Analysis
• A set of ‘best practices' measurements widely used by Measurement and Analysis organizations
• Case studies that give attendee's experience in using and analyzing diverse measurements
• An understanding of the widely used Goal-Question-Metric (GQM) paradigm

Mr. Al Sorkowitz was a Computer Scientist with the Department of the Navy where he was responsible for developing large, real-time software intensive systems. Prior to joining the Dept of the Navy, he was Director of the Standards and Quality Control Staff, at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. While at HUD, he initiated a successful testing procedure to improve the quality of unit testing that utilizes automated tools and testing metrics. A paper on this effort was published in a special issue of the IEEE Computer Society magazine "Computer" devoted to Software Quality Assurance, and was later reprinted and widely distributed in the Department of Defense Computer Institute "Selected Computer Articles"

The seminars presented by Mr. Sorkowitz are the practical hands-on “lessons learned” by himself and his staff, developing software in-house, as well as the experience working with a large number of software contractors.

Mr. Sorkowitz has published papers and has presented seminars on Software Metrics, SQA, and Testing at conferences sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society, ACM, DPMA, and the British Computer Society.