Project Integrity
1. Adopt Continuous Program Risk Management
Continuous program risk management is an important practice for ensuring successful software projects. It involves identifying and assessing risks, creating risk management plans, and monitoring progress throughout the project. By doing this, project managers can ensure that any potential risks are identified and addressed early on, leading to better project performance.
2. Estimate Cost and Schedule Empirically
Empirical estimation of cost and schedule is a critical practice for performance-based management of software projects. This involves using historical data and current information to accurately estimate the cost and timeline of a project. By doing this, project managers can ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
3. Use Metrics to Manage
Metrics are an important tool for managing software projects. They provide project managers with valuable information about the progress and performance of the project. This information can be used to assess risks, identify areas for improvement, and make changes to the project plan if necessary.
4. Track Earned Value
Earned value is an important metric for tracking the progress of software projects. It provides a way to measure the actual progress of the project against the planned progress. By tracking earned value, project managers can identify areas for improvement and adjust the project plan accordingly.
5. Track Defects Against Quality Targets
Tracking defects against quality targets is an important practice for ensuring the quality of software projects. It involves monitoring the number and types of defects that are identified in the project and comparing them to the quality targets that were set at the beginning of the project. By doing this, project managers can ensure that any potential issues are identified and addressed promptly.
6. Treat People as the Most Important Resource
People are the most important resource for any software project. It is important for project managers to value their team members and ensure that they are treated with respect and given the support they need to succeed. By doing this, project managers can ensure that their team members are motivated and productive, leading to better project performance.
Construction Integrity
7. Adopt Life Cycle Configuration Management
Life cycle configuration management is an important practice for managing software projects. It involves maintaining and controlling software development artifacts such as source code, documents, and other materials throughout the life cycle of the project. By using this practice, project managers can ensure that all project artifacts are properly managed and tracked, leading to better project performance.
8. Manage and Trace Requirements
Managing and tracing requirements is an important practice for ensuring that software projects meet their goals. It involves identifying and tracking the requirements of the project and making sure that they are properly implemented. By doing this, project managers can ensure that the project meets its goals and is delivered on time and within budget.
9. Use System-Based Software Design
System-based software design is an important practice for ensuring the success of software projects. It involves designing the software architecture in a modular fashion, with each module having its own responsibility and functionality. By using this practice, project managers can ensure that the software is flexible and extensible, leading to better project performance.
10. Ensure Data and Database Interoperability
Data and database interoperability is an important practice for ensuring the success of software projects. It involves making sure that the data and databases used in the project are able to exchange information seamlessly. By doing this, project managers can ensure that the project is able to access and utilize data from multiple sources, leading to better project performance.
11. Define and Control Interfaces
Defining and controlling interfaces is an important practice for ensuring the success of software projects. It involves defining the interfaces between the various components of the project and making sure that they are properly implemented. By doing this, project managers can ensure that the system is properly integrated and can communicate properly, leading to better project performance.
12. Design Twice, Code Once
Designing twice and coding once is an important practice for ensuring the success of software projects. It involves designing the system twice, once on paper and once in code, and then only coding the design that is most suitable for the project. By doing this, project managers can ensure that the system is properly designed and optimized for the project, leading to better project performance.
13. Assess Reuse Risks and Costs
Assessing reuse risks and costs is an important practice for ensuring the success of software projects. It involves assessing the risks and costs associated with reusing existing software components or code, and making sure that they are properly weighed against the potential benefits. By doing this, project managers can ensure that the project is implemented efficiently and without unnecessary risks, leading to better project performance.
Product Stability and Integrity
14. Inspect Requirements and Design
Inspecting requirements and design is an important practice for ensuring the success of software projects. It involves inspecting the requirements and design of the project to ensure that they are properly implemented. By doing this, project managers can ensure that the project meets its goals and is completed on time and within budget.
15. Manage Testing as a Continuous Process
Managing testing as a continuous process is an important practice for ensuring the success of software projects. It involves testing the software throughout the development process and making sure that all changes are properly tested. By doing this, project managers can ensure that the software is of high quality and meets the requirements of the project, leading to better project performance.
16. Compile and Smoke Test Frequently
Compiling and smoke testing frequently is an important practice for ensuring the success of software projects. It involves compiling the code and performing smoke tests to ensure that the code is of high quality and that any potential issues are identified and addressed early on. By doing this, project managers can ensure that the software is of high quality and is delivered on time and within budget.
Conclusion
These 16 critical software practices are essential for performance-based management of software projects. By following these practices, project managers can ensure that their projects are successful, efficient, and of high quality. By using these practices, project managers can ensure that their projects are completed on time and within budget, leading to better project performance.
