How to Observe Software Systems

by Gerald Weinberg

Overview

To consistently produce high-quality software in today's competitive marketplace, managers must have reliable information, obtained through careful observation and measurement. How to Observe Software Systems is a comprehensive guide to the basic measurement activities every organization must perform to manage the software development process.
Many management failures are caused by poor observation. First-Order Measurement tells how to observe properly with the aid of a four-step model to break the complex observation process into a series of smaller, simpler, steps. The book also defines the different levels of measurement, and describes the minimum set of activities in order to start a measurement program.
Numerous examples and diagrams illustrate the author's points, and exercises challenge readers to test their understanding of the concepts. Topics include
• why observation is important
• selecting what to observe
• visualizing the product
• visualizing the process
• pitfalls when making meaning from observations
• the direct observation of quality
• comparison of cost and value
• meta-measurement
This stand-alone text is the third in a series of volumes in which acclaimed author Gerald Weinberg explores the most difficult aspects of building high-quality software.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940012151285
Publisher:	Gerald Weinberg
Publication date:	01/27/2011
Series:	Quality Software , #3
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

I've always been interested in helping smart people be happy and productive. To that end, I've published books on human behavior, including Weinberg on Writing: The Fieldstone Method, The Psychology of Computer Programming, Perfect Software and Other Fallacies, and an Introduction to General Systems Thinking. I've also written books on leadership including Becoming a Technical Leader, The Secrets of Consulting (Foreword by Virginia Satir), More Secrets of Consulting, and the four-volume Quality Software Management series.

I try to incorporate my knowledge of science, engineering, and human behavior into all of my writing and consulting work (with writers, hi-tech researchers, software engineers, and people whose life-situation could require the use of a service dog). I write novels about such people, including The Aremac Project, Aremac Power, Jigglers, First Stringers, Second Stringers, The Hands of God, Freshman Murders, Earth's Endless Effort, and Mistress of Molecules—all about how my brilliant protagonists produce quality work and learn to be happy. My books may be found as eBooks at <http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JerryWeinberg>; on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B000AP8TZ8; and at Barnes and Noble.

Early in my career, I was the architect for the Project Mercury's space tracking network and designer of the world's first multiprogrammed operating system. I won the Warnier Prize, the Stevens Award, and the first Software Testing Professionals' Luminary Award, all for mu writing on software quality. I was also elected a charter member of the Computing Hall of Fame in San Diego and chosen for the University of Nebraska Hall of Fame.

But the "award" I'm most proud of is The book, The Gift of Time (Fiona Charles, ed.) written by my student and readers for my 75th birthday. Their stories make me feel that I've been at least partially successful at helping smart people be happy.

Editorial Reviews

"The wealth of wisdom in this volume speaks directly to individuals who want to improve their own powers of observation—a prerequisite to successfully applying knowledge to improve software quality. . . . First-Order Measurement is a must for all sentient software line and project managers!"

Shel Siegel

This book give good insights about the use of dynamic modeling applied to the software development process. Great to understand the real meaning of non linearity of human based processes and great to highlight how some easy macro indicator can give info about your software development process. The book's contribution to the software development process is of the same type of Senge's Fifth Discipline for general management

A reader from Turin, Italy

This book shows how to more precisely observe and measure the software development process and offers a model to break down the complex software process into a series of compact, simpler to understand steps. It also describes the minimum set of activities for any software organization to start a successful measurement activity, as well as the key factors to help organizations consistently produce the quality software they desire.

Derek Mahlitz

"What struck me as amazing as I read this book was not that so many software projects fail, but that so many manage to succeed. This book should be required reading for anyone who cares about project success."

Naomi Karten

I don't see how anyone can consider themselves interested in software quality without having some of Gerald Weinberg's books on their shelves (preferably well-thumbed). While I don't always agree with everything that Weinberg says, he does force you to THINK. My only real quibble is that the title of the series limits the perceived coverage to software. In my opinion, the material in these books is applicable in any development activity...

Keith Collyer