ASM.br: A Template for Specifying Indicators

Abstract

Measurement is a crucial practice for software organizations to monitor projects and improve processes. It defines indicators and provides information to support decision-making. Defining indicators is not a trivial task. Although the literature proposes several indicators, there is not a consensus about how to specify them. This paper presents ASM.br (Assistance for Software Measurement based on relationships), a template for specifying indicators by using a one-page form in which textual and graphical information is recorded and the relationships between indicators and between them and goals are put explicitly. By using ASM.br, indicators are recorded in a standardized way, easing understanding and reuse. ASM.br was applied in a software organization and the results suggests its feasibility and utility.