The Business Case for Automating Software Metrics in Object-Oriented Computer Aided Software Engineering Environments

This paper makes the business case for automating the collection ofsoftware metrics for gauging development performance in integratedcomputer aided software engineering (CASE) environments that arecharacterized by an object-oriented development methodology and acentralized repository. The automation of function point analysisis discussed in the context of such an integrated CASE environment(ICE). We also discuss new metrics that describe three differentdimensions of code reuse -- leverage, value and classification --and examine the p,ossibility of utilizing objects as means toestimate software development labor and measure productivity. Weargue that the automated collection of these software metrics opensup new avenues for refining the management of software developmentprojects and controlling stra-egic costs