Measurement & Analysis
The Measurement and Analysis process area involves:
- Specifying the objectives of measurement and analysis such that they are aligned with identified information needs and objectives
- Specifying the measures, data collection and storage mechanisms, analysis techniques, and reporting and feedback mechanisms
- Implementing the collection, storage, analysis, and reporting of the data
- Providing objective results that can be used in making informed decisions, and taking appropriate corrective actions
The integration of measurement and analysis activities into the processes of the project supports:
- Objective planning and estimating
- Tracking actual performance against established plans and objectives
- Identifying and resolving process-related issues
- Providing a basis for incorporating measurement into additional processes in the future
The staff required to implement a measurement capability may or may not be employed in a separate organization-wide program. Measurement capability may be integrated into individual projects or other organizational functions (e.g., Quality Assurance).
The initial focus for measurement activities is at the project level. However, a measurement capability may prove useful for addressing organization-wide and/or enterprise-wide information needs.
Projects may choose to store project-specific data and results in a project-specific repository. When data are shared more widely across projects, the data may reside in the organization’s measurement repository.