Defining and Evaluating Software Project Success Indicators: a GQM-based Approach

KPI (Key Process Indicators) and success indicators are often defined in a rather generic and imprecise manner. This happens because they are defined very early in the project's life, when little details about the project are known, or simply because the definition does not follow a systematic and effective methodology. We need to precisely define KPI and project success indicators, guarantee that the data upon which they are based can be effectively and efficiently measured, and assure that the computed indicators are adequate with respect to project objectives, and represent the viewpoints of all the involved stakeholders. A complete and coherent process for managing KPI and success indicators lifecycle -instrumented with specific techniques and tools, including the Goal/Question/Metrics (GQM) method for the definition of measures and the R statistic language and environment for analyzing data and computing indicators- was applied in the evaluation of the European research project MUSES. The MUSES case study shows that the proposed process provides an easy and well supported path to the definition and implementation of effective KPI and project success indicators