An Empirical Analysis of Software Productivity over Time

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE - the aim is to investigate how software project productivity has changed over time. Within this overall goal we also compare productivity between different business sectors and seek to identify major drivers. METHOD - we analysed a data set of more than 600 projects that have been collected from a number of Finnish companies since 1978. RESULTS - overall, we observed a quite pronounced improvement in productivity over the entire time period, though, this improvement is less marked since the 1990s. However, the trend is not smooth. We also observed productivity variability between company and business sector. CONCLUSIONS - whilst this data set is not a random sample so generalisation is somewhat problematic, we hope that it contributes to an overall body of knowledge about software productivity and thereby facilitates the construction of a bigger picture.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.1 Project and People Management

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.8 Metrics

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.3 Software Management

General Terms:
Design, Management, Performance

Keywords:
project management, projects, software productivity, trend analysis, empirical analysis