Using metrics to manage the end-game of a software project

In order to effectively manage the market transition from one HP LaserJet product to the next it is critical for the embedded software (firmware) to be completed and tested in time to make the manufacturing start date. A slip in firmware release causes manufacturing complications and creates a shortfall in the availability of LaserJets which translates into millions of dollars in lost sales. But quality is just as important as meeting the firmware release date. Software metrics are an integral part of our quality requirements; they are used to guide software development and functional enhancements of the firmware code. In this paper we discuss how we have used software metrics to help manage the final period of time of LaserJet firmware development and testing before a product is released. We outline our motivation for establishing this metrics program, describe how we selected metrics to determine the status of the projects being monitored, and demonstrate how we used these metrics to manage the end-game of LaserJet firmware release.