Beth Layman presents a set of basic principles for establishing and applying measurement in a software-intensive organization. Based on the Practical Software Measurement (PSM) guidebook, this interactive tutorial provides a proven process of how to implement practical measurement focused on meeting the critical information needs of the organization or project. Explore the primary drivers for establishing a measurement program, and discover how such a program should evolve as an organization’s process maturity improves. I

 
About the Instructor
Beth Layman has more than 20 years of experience in software and systems development as an individual contributor, manager, trainer, and consultant. Author of Practical Software Measurement, she is an authority on software measurement and quality management issues and associate editor of ASQ’s Software Quality Professional Journal.

Metrics typically used on projects—such as the trend of the number of critical bugs—are frequently misinterpreted due to changes in how the data is collected. The ways we choose to present the metrics we track can be just as important as the numbers themselves. Even the simplest graphs may be completely misleading when viewed out of context. Learn how metrics that we frequently use can be misinterpreted, and explore useful presentation tactics to assure that the correct state of the software can be conveyed to our project teams and others. 

Function Points are a measure of the functional size of software. Critical productivity and quality measures for software development projects and application maintenance may be established based upon Function Points. This tutorial presents the basic function point counting methodology introduced by the latest release of the IFPUG Counting Practices Manual. Learn the fundamentals of counting Function Points and their application, and gain practice through a series of exercises and a case study. K

Organizations that are high maturity in software Capability Maturity Model (CMM) terms are expected to apply quantitative management techniques to guide both engineering and management decisions. While some of these techniques are relatively simple, a high maturity organization can be expected to apply more rigorous statistical techniques such as control charts and regression analysis. Learn about basic statistical and modeling tools and the issues associated with using them correctly. Examples of common errors in using statistics also will be discussed. 

Most software managers start with a destination (the product) and a map (a plan) for how to get there. What happens between "here" to "there" is seldom as simple as it appears at the start. Software managers need the skills to anticipate and communicate about risks, recognize when they’ve gotten off the path, and make corrections to get back on track. In this tutorial, learn three key skills for achieving project goals: anticipating and communicating risks; accurately observing results; and choosing responses that keep the development on track. 

 
About the Instructor
Esther Derby has over 20 years of experience in software development, including roles as application developer, systems manager, project manager, and consultant. She is currently an independent consultant and works with companies and individuals to improve their effectiveness in developing software and thinking about systems. 

Software component technologies have played a large role in rapidly developing software systems. The Internet and the World Wide Web are powered by specialized software applications developed using software components. Components allow organizations to develop highly reusable software assets for use within an entire line of software product applications. Learn effective processes for designing, managing, and maintaining component-based systems. Discover how using components in software development is a critical business decision. 

Even experienced software managers are having trouble attracting talented and capable staff. This tutorial will take you step by step through developing a hiring strategy, using a consensus-based hiring technique, and creating great interview questions for a technical and cultural fit. Determine how to use phone screens and in-person interviews to find the best people quickly—and learn how to interview in such a way that you obtain real answers about how people will fit into your organization. 

 
About the Instructor
Johanna Rothman observes and consults on managing high technology product development. She works with her clients to find the leverage points that will increase their effectiveness as organizations and as managers, helping them ship the right product at the right time, and recruit and retain the best people. With more than 20 years’ experience in the software engineering and management profession, she holds two ASQ certifications: Certified Quality Auditor and Certified Software Quality Engineer.

Gerald Weinberg provides you with new strategies for coping with your most serious consulting problems—both internal and external—in this interactive, one-day workshop. Confirm your most successful strategies while sharing the techniques of others. Learn how to be more sensitive to client desires, more aware of safety issues, and more influential in obtaining effective client responses. Real-life consulting cases will be used. 

Seating is strictly limited to 20 delegates on a first-come, first-served basis for this one-day workshop. Register early!

 
About the Instructor
For more than 40 years, Gerald Weinberg has worked on transforming software organizations. He is author or co-author of many articles and books, including The Psychology of Computer Programming. He is perhaps best known for his workshops for software leaders, including Systems Effectiveness Management (SEM), Problem Solving Leadership (PSL), and the Congruent Organizational Change-Shop.