The Business Case for Software Performance Engineering
Lloyd G. Williams, Connie U. Smith · 2002
Summary Performance failures occur when a software product is unable to meet its overall objectives due to inadequate performance. Performance failures negatively impact your bottom line by increasing costs, decreasing revenue or both.The primary cause of performance failures is a reactive approach to performance during the development process. Cost and schedule pressures encourage project managers to adopt a “fix-it-later” approach in which performance is ignored until there is a problem. When a problem is dis-covered, developers must try to “tune” the software to meet performance objectives if, indeed, they can be met.The key to preventing performance failures and the resulting project crises is to adopt a proactive approach to performance management that anticipates potential performance problems and includes techniques for identifying and responding to those problems early in the process. With a proactive approach, you avoid the project crises brought about by discovering performance prob-lems late and produce software that meets performance objectives and is delivered on time and within budget.Software Engineering Research264 Ridgeview LaneBoulder, CO 80302(303)938-9847FAX: (303) [email protected] Engineering ServicesPO Box 2640Santa Fe, NM 87504(505) 988-3811FAX: (786) [email protected]