In software intensive business systems, knowledge is the new capital.

Endemic loss of know-how is one of the key causes of low performance in softsystems; and low performance is a key cause of loss of knowledge. If your investment in training is to break this vicious circle, the training delivered needs to be effective in transferring knowledge into the organisation.

Effective Measurement Programmes

For a whole raft of reasons - good, bad and indifferent - organisations frequently struggle to implement and sustain software measurement programmes that deliver any real value.

SMS has been providing training and support services in measurement-driven software process improvement since 1994, and we observe that the measurement aspect of software process improvement frameworks such as CMMI is frequently the weakest link in the improvement programme. We also observe the effects on performance of poor measurement practice (see “The Case for Rightshifting”). Apart from the waste this represents, as measurement is crucial to the sustainable ability to improve performance, it also serves as a significant drag on transformational change. It is, therefore, an issue that any organisation seriously addressing enterprise performance must get to grips with.

SMS wants to ensure that our clients do succeed with their adoption, implementation and continued use of software measurement. This is best achieved by the active use of measurement by creative, client-facing staff, using in-line indicators and rapid feedback on process performance to make status and progress visible to all those involved in the value stream.

Senior management review of so-called ‘key performance indicators’ (KPI) can help stimulate use, but all too often these KPI are somehow disconnected from day-to-day practice. This can lead to dysfunctional (wasteful) behaviour - commonly, confusing ‘measurement targets’ with true ‘business goals’.

Experience has taught SMS that providing measurement training only in the form of courses such as the typical 2 day formal class rarely meets the needs of the organisation. More tailored programmes are required to embed good measurement practice in the organisational culture.

Training the Expert Engineering Workforce

Training an expert engineering workforce in methods, tools and techniques requires a set of education and training products that collectively provide support over time, to all the relevant audiences, to establish and sustain the use of relevant methods. SMS's training package includes such a range of offerings, including on-line training packages, which can be tailored to suit the circumstances of your organisation.

Our standard knowledge transfer programmes cover:

• COSMIC Functional Size Measurement
• IFPUG 4.2 Function Point Analysis
• Mk II Function Point Analysis
• GQ(I)M
• COCOMO.II.2000 and other estimating techniques
• Balanced Scorecard
• CMMI
• Agile methods
• Agile and CMMI
• Lean & Iterative (Agile) Software Process Improvement

To discuss how we can meet your training needs, please contact training@measuresw.com or call Sue Rule on +44(0)1732 863760.

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