Product
Pipeline: Estimate
Express 6.0 is in the final round of testing.
In this release we have updated the default set of industry
trends and added a variety of lifecycle templates.
SLIM-Suite 7.0 is underway. Although we
are still in the requirements phase, planned enhancements
include an industrial-strength application programming
interface
(API),
upgraded 3rd
party tool interfaces, web publishing, a work breakdown structure
upgrade, and several other tool-specific upgrades. If
you have specific enhancement requests, you can submit them via
our web
site.
QSM
Research: Recently,
we examined cost and schedule
differences
between best- and worst-in-class projects using
328 IT projects completed between
January
2000 and July 2003. The results of this research
will be featured in the QSM
IT Software Metrics Almanac, slated
for publication in early 2004. For more information,
contact Doug
Putnam at (703) 749-3817.
Here is a quick peek at the results:
- Best-in-class
projects deliver 3 times faster and 8
times cheaper than
worst-in-class projects.
- Best in class projects deliver 1.8 times faster and
2.5 times cheaper compared
to the “typical project”.
- The average schedule slippage increases with project size,
starting at
12% for small projects and growing to 40% for large projects.
- The average effort overrun is approximately 11%. Average effort
overrun percentages were constant
across all size regimes; however standard deviations in both
schedule slippage and
effort
overrun were quite large, indicating that worst-in-class performers could experience
significantly larger overruns and slips. |
Larry
Putnam and Ware Myers have published a new book:
“Five Core Metrics”. The newest addition to the QSM library features
metrics success stories in an easy-to-read case study format. Click
here for details
and purchasing information.
Customer
Education: John
Bryant has been working hard on an Advanced User
Class. The first class is scheduled for January
2004. The Advanced User workshop will focus on building
templates and
customized
sizing methods.
The workshop spans 2 days and will cost $1900 per
student. For dates and registration information, check
out the training
schedules page on the QSM web site.
John is also available for on-site training upon request.
For more information contact Keith
Ciocco at (703) 749-3812.
The
Marketplace: Look
for us at these upcoming conferences:
-
Primavera Users Group November 9-12
- CMMI Tech November 17-20 |
Recently,
we welcomed Richard
Pelaez and Ted
Johnson to
the QSM sales team. They are both experienced salespeople
with very customer-oriented personalities. We think you'll
like them as much as we do! Richard's territory is the Midwest.
He can be reached at (703) 749-3821. Ted will
be responsible for the West Coast and he can be reached at (703)
749-3819.
Customer
Hotline: We
still need project data for the next QSM
trend line update. We have about 600 projects in our
holding tank - by the time we complete our validation
process, that number will probably shrink to 400. Please
consider contributing to the database so that your lifecycle,
technologies, and languages will be reflected in the
newest industry trends. We prefer SLIM-DataManager or
completed SLIM-Control files,
but
will accept data in other
formats. If you have data or questions, please contact Kate
Armel at (562) 598-0397.
We want to know how you have successfully
used our tools, so we've added a form on our
web site where you can submit your comments. Please visit,
and tell us how you've used
the tools and give us your comments on the outcome.
Your comments will benefit the SLIM user community
and lets us know which features are working well for
you.
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Call
QSM today for a FREE DEMO
of our best in class SLIM-Suite Estimation Products
800 424 6755
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