The Economics of Iterative Software Development: Steering Toward Better Business Results: The Economics of Iterative Development

191 Pages·2009·1.107 MB·English

by  Walker Royce, Kurt Bittner, Michael Perrow

The Economics of
Iterative Software
Development
This page intentionally left blank
The Economics
of Iterative
Software
Development
SteeringToward Better
Business Results
Walker Royce
Kurt Bittner
Mike Perrow
UpperSaddleRiver,NJ•Boston•Indianapolis•SanFrancisco
NewYork•Toronto•Montreal•London•Munich•Paris•Madrid
Capetown•Sydney•Tokyo•Singapore•MexicoCity
Manyofthedesignationsusedbymanufacturersandsellerstodistinguishtheirproductsareclaimedas
trademarks.Wherethosedesignationsappearinthisbook,andthepublisherwasawareofatrademark
claim,thedesignationshavebeenprintedwithinitialcapitallettersorinallcapitals.
TheappendixisadaptedfromSpence/Bittner,ManagingInterativeSoftwareDevelopmentProjects,
©2006PearsonEducation,Inc.ReproducedbypermissionofPearsonEducation,Inc.
Theauthorsandpublisherhavetakencareinthepreparationofthisbook,butmakenoexpressedor
impliedwarrantyofanykindandassumenoresponsibilityforerrorsoromissions.Noliabilityis
assumedforincidentalorconsequentialdamagesinconnectionwithorarisingoutoftheuseofthe
informationorprogramscontainedherein.
Thepublisheroffersexcellentdiscountsonthisbookwhenorderedinquantityforbulkpurchasesor
specialsales,whichmayincludeelectronicversionsand/orcustomcoversandcontentparticularto
yourbusiness,traininggoals,marketingfocus,andbrandinginterests.Formoreinformation,please
contactU.S.CorporateandGovernmentSales,[phone],[email protected].
ForsalesoutsidetheUnitedStates,pleasecontactInternationalSales,[email protected].
VisitusontheWeb:informit.com/aw
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Royce,Walker
Theeconomicsofiterativesoftwaredevelopment:steeringtoward
betterbusinessresults/WalkerRoyce,KurtBittner,MikePerrow.
p. cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-0-321-50935-2(hardcover:alk.paper)
1. Computersoftware—Development—Management.2. Software
engineering. I.Bittner,Kurt.II.Perrow,Mike.III.Title.
QA76.76.D47R6852009
005.1—dc22
2009003221
Copyright©2009PearsonEducation,Inc.
Allrightsreserved.PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Thispublicationisprotectedbycopyright,
andpermissionmustbeobtainedfromthepublisherpriortoanyprohibitedreproduction,storageina
retrievalsystem,ortransmissioninanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,
recording,orlikewise.Forinformationregardingpermissions,writetoPearsonEducation,Inc.,Rights
andContractsDepartment,501BoylstonStreet,Suite900,Boston,MA02116,Fax:[phone].
ISBN-13:978-0-321-50935-2
ISBN-10: 0-321-50935-8
TextprintedintheUnitedStatesonrecycledpaperatR.R.DonnelleyinCrawfordsville,Indiana.
Firstprinting,March2009
ForBarryBoehm,whoseideashaveinspiredusall.
This page intentionally left blank
CONTENTS
Preface xiii
AbouttheAuthors xvii
PART I THE SOFTWARE-DRIVEN ECONOMY 1
1. The Challenge of Software Project Management 3
TheHighStakesinSoftwareDevelopment 4
InstitutionalFocus 5
TraditionalSoftwareProjectManagement 7
ProblemswiththeWaterfallApproach 8
Summary 11
2. Achieving Results: The Case for Software
Economics 13
IterativeDevelopment 15
BenefitsoftheResults-BasedApproach 16
TheMarkofSuccess 18
Summary 19
PART II IMPROVING SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMICS 21
3. Trends in Software Economics 23
ASimplifiedModelofSoftwareEconomics 24
SoftwareEngineering:A40-YearHistory 26
vii
viii • • • CONTENTS
KeystoImprovement:ABalancedApproach 28
Summary 30
4. Reducing Software Project Size or Complexity 33
ManagingScope 33
ReducingtheSizeofHuman-GeneratedCode 35
ImprovingReuseUsingService-OrientedArchitectures 36
Summary 36
5. Improving the Development Process 39
ProjectProcesses 39
UsinganIterativeProcess 40
AttackingSignificantRisksEarly 43
ImprovePracticesIncrementallytoMeetGoals 46
Summary 48
6. Improving Team Proficiency 51
EnhancingIndividualPerformance 52
ImprovingProjectTeamwork 52
AdvancingOrganizationalCapability 55
Summary 57
7. Improving Automation Through Integrated Tools 59
ImprovingHumanProductivity 60
EliminatingErrorSources 61
EnablingProcessImprovements 62
Summary 63
8. Accelerating Culture Change Through
Common Sense 65
ProfilesofSuccessfulOrganizations 65
KeystoSuccess 67
Lower-andMiddle-LevelManagersAretheKey
Performers 68
CONTENTS • • • ix
Requirements,Designs,andPlansAreFluidand
Tangible 69
AmbitiousDemonstrationsAreEncouraged 69
GoodandBadProjectPerformanceIsMuchMore
ObviousEarlierintheLifecycle 70
EarlyIterationsWillBeImmature 70
DetailedandCompleteArtifactsAreLessImportant
Early,MoreImportantLater 71
RealIssuesSurfaceandGetResolvedSystematically 71
QualityAssuranceIsEveryone’sJob,NotaSeparate
Discipline 72
InvestmentsinAutomationAreViewedasNecessary 72
Recommendation:SelecttheRightProject,theRight
People,andtheRightGoals 73
Summary 73
PART III PRACTICAL MEASUREMENT FOR SOFTWARE
ENGINEERING 77
9. A Practical View of Software Development Metrics 79
MeasurementsandGoals 80
VariabilityandGoals 80
MeasurementandIterativeDevelopment 81
WhenMeasurementGoesWrong 83
What’sWrongwithDetailedUp-frontPlanning? 85
DecidingWhattoMeasure,PhasebyPhase 86
Summary 87
10. What to Measure in the Inception Phase 89
AssessingFinancialViability 90
AssessingTechnicalViabilityandEstimatingOverall
ProjectCost 91
IterationintheInceptionPhase 93