Objective
Parallax Group plc are a rapidly expanding concern with major focus in the application development arena. A commitment to quality and improved management of projects is a demonstration of the Parallax objectives and the organisation is moving swiftly through the process of gaining a full TickIt assessment as well as advancing through the Capability Maturity Model. We will also be changing our focus on process from the CMM to SPICE.
The increasing number and complexity of projects managed by Parallax has emphasised the need to accurately predict time, cost and software quality. We believe that this is a challenge faced by most organisations in our business sector. Together with our associate contractor, The University of Warwick, we will attempt to identify and prove a set of metrics which will facilitate the choice of an Object Oriented methodology and accurately predict cost, time and software quality at project commencement.
THE EXPERIMENT
This experiment has three clear stages. The first stage is to develop a set of metrics which we can use to describe and quantitatively predict the performance of the development process, when using an OO methodology, and the quality of the resultant software product. The metrics should also describe how re-usable the software is.
The second phase will be the development of an application during which metrics will be collected and reviewed. The chosen project will be developed twice. One will be a normal development project at Parallax Group plc. This is the baseline project. We will choose a development taking about 18 man months over 6 months elapsed which has an OO analysis phase as well as an OO development. The second project will be a parallel development of the same functionality at the University of Warwick using Eiffel as a development methodology.
The third phase will be the review of both our predicted and collected results. Additionally the two projects will be compared with each other.
Parallax currently employs 150 people. The direct participants in this project number 8 people. Additionally a control group of 25 people has been established to assist in surveys, review of results and collation of metrics on existing projects. This provides a significant amount of empirical data with which to work.
EXPECTED IMPACT AND EXPERIENCE
The experiment will pull our improvement plans forward by between 2-3 years, depending on how quickly we can institutionalise the results of the experiment.
When both projects have been completed, the results collected, compared and reviewed, we shall update our Delivery Management System. The change to our own operational processes is the key to retention of the learning from this experiment. The ability to reduce development times through re-use and predict end-product quality through a proven database of experience will enhance our commercial proposals significantly.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
W148ST London
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.