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Goal-Driven Definition of Product Metrics Based on PropertiesDefining product metrics requires a rigorous and disciplined approach, because useful metrics depend, to a very large extent, on one's goals and assumptions about the studied software process. Unlike in more mature scientific fields, it appears difficult to devise a "universal" set of metrics in software engineering, that can be used across application environments. We propose an approach for the definition of product metrics which is driven by the experimental goals of measurement, expressed via the Goal/Question/Metric (GQM) paradigm, and is based on the mathematical properties of the metrics. This approach integrates several research contributions from the literature into a consistent, practical and rigorous approach. The approach we outline should not be considered as a complete and definitive solution, but as a starting point for discussion about a product metric definition approach widely accepted in the software engineering community. At this point, we intend to provide an intellectual process that we think is necessary to define sound software product metrics. A precise and complete documentation of such an approach will provide the information needed to make the assessment and reuse of a new metric possible. Thus, product metrics are supported by a solid theory which facilitates their review and refinement. Moreover, their definition is made less exploratory and, as a consequence, one is less likely to identify spurious correlations between process and product metrics.
Document ID
19990021260
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Briand, Lionel
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD United States)
Morasca, Sandro
(Politecnico di Milano Milan, Italy)
Basili, Victor R.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: Software Engineering Laboratory Series: Collected Software Engineering Papers
Volume: 13
Subject Category
Computer Programming And Software
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF 01-5-24845
CONTRACT_GRANT: NsG-5123
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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