QSM: A History of Industry Leading Innovation

Since 1978, QSM has led the industry in software estimation, project tracking and control, and software metrics analysis. The following is a summary of major events in the QSM timeline:

1978: Larry Putnam forms Quantitative Software Management. Larry’s pioneering research results in the SLIM® Methodology (a coherent set of equations and processes to estimate software development projects). Parts of the SLIM Methodology are found in most popular commercial estimation tools today.

1979: QSM introduces a mainframe timesharing version of SLIM-Estimate: the first tool to introduce and use Monte Carlo simulation to perform risk analysis and linear programming for optimized resource planning.

1980: QSM introduces the first standalone desktop software estimation tool (Hewlett Packard 80 series). Innovation in this re-engineered version included graphical outputs and a module that allowed customers to collect and calibrate estimates with their own historical data.

1982: QSM delivers SLIM-Estimate on the IBM PC platform. The Rayleigh Defect prediction model makes its debut in this release.

1983: QSM delivers PCubed: a scaled down version of SLIM-Estimate for 1- to 3-person projects.

1986: QSM delivers Size Planner: a tool for size estimation. Recognizing that size estimation is one of the most difficult challenges of software management, QSM introduces 5 independent approaches that can be averaged to develop more confidence in the size estimate. QSM is the first tool supplier to offer this capability to the market.

1989: QSM introduces SLIM-Control. QSM is the first tool supplier to offer a project tracking and forecasting tool to go with their estimation and planning tool. Innovative capabilities include statistical process control bounds for plan vs. actual comparisons and curve fit forecasting of actual performance data to determine likely completion dates and budgets.

1992: QSM releases SLIM-Estimate for Windows. This version of SLIM-Estimate is a total re-engineering for the Windows GUI environment. Innovative Features include graphical control gauges, dynamic risk gauges and multiple estimation views. Industry data and trends provide a sanity check for the estimates.

1994: QSM Introduces SLIM-Metrics: another first in the software measurement industry. A powerful project repository, it provides query and analysis tools to compare projects and assess process improvements. Innovations include industry benchmark curve fits, customizable screen components and multiple data set comparisons.

1996: QSM delivers a major upgrade to SLIM-Control.

1998: QSM introduces SLIM-MasterPlan: an enterprise project aggregation tool. SLIM-MasterPlan is the first tool that allows estimators to aggregate estimates of multiple product lines and multiple releases to see the “big picture”. Innovative features allow graphical shifting of resources to optimize plans or reallocation of resources.

2001: QSM Releases SLIM-Suite: an integrated set of estimation, tracking, and benchmarking tools covering all aspects of the software lifecycle.

2001: QSM Introduces Estimate Express: a comprehensive, yet affordable software project estimation solution designed for smaller companies or project managers with smaller projects.

2003: QSM delivers the SLIM-Suite 6.0. Over 40 new and improved features across the entire tool suite make this the premier software estimation product on the market.

2005: …SLIM-Suite 6.1 is released. The enhanced tool suite features an API to allow seamless integration of SLIM products with other popular project management tools and user-friendly Work Breakdown Structure screens to model effort and cost at the skill category and task level.

2006: QSM publishes the QSM IT Software Almanac, over 100 pages of in depth analysis drawn from QSM's world class database of software projects. SLIM-Suites 6.2 and 6.3 are released, bringing improved import/export integration with Microsoft Project and additional features to the SLIM Suite API, and the 2006 Users Conferences in the US and Europe give SLIM users the chance to share success stories and get a glimpse of the upcoming features of SLIM Suite 7.0.