How do you use SCM metrics to identify and resolve configuration issues and risks?

1 What are configuration management metrics and indicators?

Configuration management metrics and indicators are quantitative or qualitative measures that reflect the state, progress, or outcome of configuration management activities. Configuration management is the process of identifying, controlling, tracking, and verifying the configuration items (CIs) that make up a software product, such as source code, documentation, hardware, or software components. Configuration management metrics and indicators can be classified into four categories: process, product, project, and people metrics.

2 Why are configuration management metrics and indicators important?

Configuration management metrics and indicators are essential for providing valuable insights to the software development team and other stakeholders. They can be used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of configuration management processes, assess the quality and functionality of the software product and its CIs, monitor changes, detect and prevent configuration issues and risks, improve decision-making and problem-solving capabilities, and enhance communication and collaboration.

3 How to use configuration management metrics and indicators effectively?

To use configuration management metrics and indicators effectively, the software development team should define clear and relevant goals and objectives. They should then select appropriate metrics and indicators that align with those goals. Data should be collected and analyzed regularly and accurately, with results reported and communicated clearly and timely. The results should be used to identify and resolve configuration issues and risks, as well as to improve configuration management processes and practices.

4 Examples of configuration management metrics and indicators

Configuration management metrics and indicators are used to measure the performance and quality of configuration management processes and practices, the quality and functionality of the software product and its CIs, the progress and outcome of the software project, as well as the performance and satisfaction of the software development team and other stakeholders. Examples of these metrics are the number of configuration audits, the frequency of configuration baselines, the number of defects, the defect resolution time, the schedule variance, the cost variance, the skill level, and the morale.

5 How to choose configuration management metrics and indicators?

Choosing configuration management metrics and indicators can be a difficult task, as there is no universal solution. The software development team should take into account the purpose and scope of configuration management, the characteristics and requirements of the software product and its CIs, the expectations and needs of the software development team and other stakeholders, the availability and reliability of configuration management data sources, the cost and benefit of collecting and analyzing configuration management data, and the compatibility and consistency of configuration management metrics and indicators.