Achieving Software Excellence
Capers Jones · Auerbach Publications eBooks · 2021
Because software is expensive and buggy, all companies that use or employ significant quantities of software need to focus on best development practices. There is substantial data on what these are based on analysis of thousands of projects: (1) improved training software personnel; (2) state of the art quality control including reviews and inspections before testing; (3) accurate estimates of all projects using parametric estimation tools instead of manual estimates; (4) accurate measures of project schedules, effort, and costs; (5) accurate measurement of defect potentials and defect removal efficiency (DRE); (6) continue measures after delivery to get accurate data on maintenance and enhancements; (7) set quantitative goals for defect potentials and DRE. In general, excellent software projects tend to have productivity rates in excess of 8 function points per month, defect potentials of less than 2.0 per function points, and more than 98% DRE.