Gartner Research

Metrics: Improving IT Value, Justifying IT Investment

Published: 23 February 2009

ID: G00203671

Analyst(s): Kirk Knoernschild

Summary

Metrics can provide valuable insight that helps IT improve its processes, increase software quality, and provide evidence that justifies IT investment. Unfortunately, many software development teams struggle to establish a credible system of metrics. As the impact of a deflated economy tightens corporate budgets, it's imperative that IT be able to measure its impact on the bottom line while also improving its internal processes. In this Application Platform Strategies overview, Analyst Kirk Knoernschild discusses how metrics can be used to measure business value and improve IT efficiency and effectiveness while providing tips that help ensure metrics are used effectively.

Table Of Contents

Summary of Findings

Analysis

  • Metrics with Purpose
    • Improve IT Processes
    • Justify Investments
    • Increase Transparency
  • A Metrics Taxonomy
    • Internal Metrics
    • Business-Value Metrics
  • Measuring the Right Stuff
    • Attributes of an Effective Metric
    • Proceed with Cautious Optimism
  • Recommendations
    • Use Metrics to Improve IT Efficiency and Effectiveness
    • Work with Businesspeople to Develop Business-Value Metrics
    • Require New Projects to Specify Business-Value Metrics
    • Use Application Rationalization to Evaluate the Existing Portfolio
    • Put Appropriate Processes in Place to Avoid Metriculation
    • Reassess Metrics to Ensure Ongoing Alignment
    • Publish Measurements Publicly

The Details

  • Code Inspection Tools Market
    • Commercial Tools
    • Open Source Tools
  • National Benchmark Averages
    • Software Defects
  • Types of Metriculation
    • Faulty Assumption
    • Selective Use
    • Fudging the Numbers
    • Overgeneralization
    • Whiz-Bang Graphics
    • Creative Charts
  • Survey Questions
    • Survey Question to Discover the Extent of the Problem
    • Survey Questions That Indicate How to Fix the Problem

Conclusion

Notes

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