Process
Areas
(staged)

Level 2
 
RM
 PP
 PMC
 SAM
 MA
 PPQA
 CM
Level 3
 
RD
 TS
 PI
 VE
 VA
 OPF
 OPD
 OT
 IPM
 RSKM
 DAR
Level 4
 
OPP
 QPM
Level 5
 
OID
 CAR

 SP 1.1 Establish Measurement Objectives
Process AreaMA
Level2
GoalSG 1
PracticeSP 1.1

Establish and maintain measurement objectives that are derived from identified information needs and objectives.

Measurement objectives document the purposes for which measurement and analysis are done, and specify the kinds of actions that may be taken based on the results of data analyses.

The sources for measurement objectives may be management, technical, project, product, or process implementation needs.

The measurement objectives may be constrained by existing processes, available resources, or other measurement considerations. Judgments may need to be made about whether the value of the results will be commensurate with the resources devoted to doing the work.

Modifications to identified information needs and objectives may, in turn, be indicated as a consequence of the process and results of measurement and analysis.

Sources of information needs and objectives may include the following:

·   Project plans

·   Monitoring of project performance

·   Interviews with managers and others who have information needs

·   Established management objectives

·   Strategic plans

·   Business plans

·   Formal requirements or contractual obligations

·   Recurring or other troublesome management or technical problems

·   Experiences of other projects or organizational entities

·   External industry benchmarks

·   Process improvement plans

Example measurement objectives include the following:

·   Reduce time to delivery

·   Reduce total lifecycle cost

·   Deliver specified functionality completely

·   Improve prior levels of quality

·   Improve prior customer satisfaction ratings

·   Maintain and improve the acquirer/supplier relationships

  

Refer to the Project Planning process area for more information about estimating project attributes and other planning information needs.

Refer to the Project Monitoring and Control process area for more information about project performance information needs.

Refer to the Requirements Development process area for more information about meeting customer requirements and related information needs.

Refer to the Requirements Management process area for more information about maintaining requirements traceability and related information needs.

Typical Work Products

1.    Measurement objectives

Subpractices

1.    Document information needs and objectives.

Information needs and objectives are documented to allow traceability to subsequent measurement and analysis activities.

2.    Prioritize information needs and objectives.

It may be neither possible nor desirable to subject all initially identified information needs to measurement and analysis. Priorities may also need to be set within the limits of available resources.

3.    Document, review, and update measurement objectives.

It is important to carefully consider the purposes and intended uses of measurement and analysis.

The measurement objectives are documented, reviewed by management and other relevant stakeholders, and updated as necessary. Doing so enables traceability to subsequent measurement and analysis activities, and helps ensure that the analyses will properly address identified information needs and objectives.

It is important that users of measurement and analysis results be involved in setting measurement objectives and deciding on plans of action. It may also be appropriate to involve those who provide the measurement data.

4.    Provide feedback for refining and clarifying information needs and objectives as necessary.

Identified information needs and objectives may need to be refined and clarified as a result of setting measurement objectives. Initial descriptions of information needs may be unclear or ambiguous. Conflicts may arise between existing needs and objectives. Precise targets on an already existing measure may be unrealistic.

5.    Maintain traceability of the measurement objectives to the identified information needs and objectives.

There must always be a good answer to the question, “Why are we measuring this?”

Of course, the measurement objectives may also change to reflect evolving information needs and objectives.

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Process
Areas
(continuous)


Process
management  
 
OPF
 OPD
 OT  
 
OPP 
 
OID
Project
management
 
PP
 PMC
 SAM 
 
IPM
 RSKM
 
QPM
Engineering
 
RD
 RM
 TS
 PI
 VE
 VA
Support
 
CM
 PPQA
 MA
 
DAR
 CAR