Audits and Management Reviews

Software project audits and management reviews are powerful methods to verify that software development efforts are in line with their original budget, time, and quality objectives. In doing so, they usually involve the (manual) evaluation of project, process, or product characteristics to detect discrepancies from planned results. Hence, their focus is clearly on management rather than technical issues, which separates them from more quality-enhancing activities, such as software inspections or formal technical reviews. Since software project audits and management reviews are often conducted by third parties—either independent or in-house—they are in fact decision-making tools; that is, they provide the basis and rationale for more effective management decisions. This entry presents a practical road map to understand the underlying structure and mechanisms of software project audits and management reviews. The road map is primarily driven by practical rather than theoretical considerations and involves six distinct yet important dimensions: purpose, scope, process, participants, timing, and standards. In the context of the road map and the dimensions presented, this entry illustrates and explains software project audits and management reviews and provides some heuristics for their introduction and usage in organizations.