What sticks will you choose to be compared with?
While you are setting the stage for success this week always keep your eyes on the ruler. You will be measured by the success of the change as much (if not more) than the health of your triangle.
Are there functions of time and task that could communicate your project in a better light? Be more meaningful to your business partners? Your technology partners?
Will your features report user success? Administrative success? Operation challenges?
Will your release be self reporting? Will it cry for change in a lean format?
Take a half hour to measure how your change will be measured 1 month, 1 release, and 1 year, after release and you will be able to build your metrics before others come asking.
Here are some resources to start you on the path to measuring improvement:
Software Metrics Programs - Great overview of how large scale software coding metrics are set up.
TenStep Measurement / Metrics - Collection of sites covering all sides of determining, gathering, and improving metrics throughout the life of a program.
Microsoft Dynamics – Supply Chain Performance Metrics - Describes the steps from business process alignment through data integration. Links to good background resources applicable to any business process / software change intersection.
The 7 Step Process to Determining ROI Metrics for Your Email Campaigns - A walkthrough of how to set up a comprehensive plan when some portions can be directly measured while other positions must be educated guesses.
