Software measurement metrics and their application in the software acquisition improvement process: a case study of the Kenyan software acquisition

Abstract

This study is based on Software Metrics and the Software Process Improvement (SPI), and the role that metrics play inprocess improvement. The software improvement process can be viewed from the perspective of either improving the software development process or improving the software acquisition process. Since most organizations in Kenya are involvement in the acquisition of software from software resellers, then the research focused on how software acquirers can improve the software acquisition process. The aim of the research was to determine how organizations can improve the quality of the software delivered to them by the software suppliers. In undertaking this research, different SPI models were discussed. Of particular importance were software acquisition models namely the Capability Maturity Model for Acquisition (CMMI-ACQ), the Euromethod, Generic Acquisition Reference Process (GARP) and the SPI. The study narrowed to a variant of the CMMI-ACQ model called the Lean CMMI that was adapted for GM by Hoffman and Yeldin (Hoffman & Yeldin 2002). Lean CMMI is suitable for smaller organizations and this justified why it was identified for use. The main premise behind this study is that by improving the software acquisition process, then it is envisaged that the final software delivered for the organization will have higher quality. The most important factors considered by the acquirer and supplier organization in the acquisition process are called contractual touch-points. These contractual touch-points are the ones that form the basis of the questionnaire for gathering the data used in the research. The research found out that organizations requesting software to be used in their organization want a number of factors considered. These broadly fall under quality issues in acquirer organization, quality issues in supplier organization, project ownership and management, contract solicitation factors, requirements definition and specification, system development and controls, contract tracking and oversight, system acceptance and transition management.