Research Seminar - July 30, 2004

Errors and Pearls -
Process Control with Two Variables

 

Time: 11am Friday July 30

Computer Science & Software Engineering

Seminar Room 1.24

 

Terry Woodings
Senior Teaching Fellow

 

Abstract
Strong software project management involves control of two processes - that of estimation in the derivation of project plans - and that of the development methodology. General methods of Taguchi's statistical process improvement will be reviewed and an outline given of a new approach for partitioning the overall error into that due to the two major sources. The theory has been tested using five years of data from student projects. However, the aim of the research was to provide a pragmatic strategy for project managers working in industrial conditions. The adaptation to commercial projects has now been achieved and this is demonstrated with three data-sets from industry. The scope and limits in the improvement in software project estimation and control can thus be quantified.

Keywords
Project Estimation, Software Engineering Management, Process Improvement