Defining and Understanding Software Measurement Data

SEI Report
This paper describes a measurement process and provides basic concepts managers can use to integrate measurement into the process for managing software development.
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

Abstract

For managers to effectively manage and control software development projects, they need to incorporate a measurement process into their decision making and reporting process. Measurement costs money, but it can also save money through early problem detection and objective clarification of critical software development issues. The following describes a measurement process and provides some basic concepts that managers can use to help integrate measurement into the process for managing software development.

Cite This SEI Report

Rozum, J. (2001, January 1). Defining and Understanding Software Measurement Data. Retrieved September 12, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-and-understanding-software-measurement-data/.

@techreport{rozum_2001,
author={Rozum, James},
title={Defining and Understanding Software Measurement Data},
month={Jan},
year={2001},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-and-understanding-software-measurement-data/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Sep-12}
}

Rozum, James. "Defining and Understanding Software Measurement Data." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, January 1, 2001. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-and-understanding-software-measurement-data/.

J. Rozum, "Defining and Understanding Software Measurement Data," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 1-Jan-2001 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-and-understanding-software-measurement-data/. [Accessed: 12-Sep-2026].

Rozum, James. "Defining and Understanding Software Measurement Data." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Jan. 2001. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-and-understanding-software-measurement-data/. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Rozum, James. Defining and Understanding Software Measurement Data. Software Engineering Institute. 2001. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/defining-and-understanding-software-measurement-data/