Template: Outline of a Measurement Plan
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Measurement Plan Outline
Note to the user: This outline can be used for a measurement plan that is part of an IT Evolution Plan, a Plateau Plan, or a Project Plan. The word initiative is used as a generic term that will be replaced by Evolution, Plateau, or Project.
This information was adapted from: Practical Software and Systems Measurement: A Foundation for Objective Project Management, Version 4.0b. See the management resources section for a specific Web link.
1. Issues and selected measures
Issues are defined as the goals, risks, and problems that have been identified for the specific initiative. The goals come from the Estimate of the Situation, the risks are derived from the Risk Management Plan, and the problems are derived from the history of similar initiatives.
For each of the issues, a list of the measures that will be used to aid in the management of the issue is listed. For each measure, specify the question that will be answered when the measure is reported.
The following example could be used for this purpose:
Issue |
Source of Issue |
Measure |
Question to be answered |
This is a description of a specific issue from the current initiative documentation, or from the organization's history. |
Where was the issue defined? |
This is the specific measure that will be reported. |
What question will this measure answer? |
Example: We are concerned about our ability to make the schedule. |
Previous projects in our Agency have slipped the schedule. |
Milestones accomplished vs. milestones planned |
Are we ahead or behind the plan? |
2. Measurement specifications and definitions
This is the definition and type of information to measure. It defines how the measure is used. Specify the data and implementation requirements for selected measures, including the following:
- Typical Data Items. The data items that are usually measured and collected. These data items are the fundamental values collected for a measure. For this example, the Milestone measure includes the data item and Number of Milestones.
- Typically Level. The activity or component level at which the supplier typically collects data items for the measure. This is a specific level defined in the measure's Typical Aggregation Structure. For example, if data is collected within a plateau aggregation structure, data may be collected for each component of each project.
- Data Items. Additional Information (Optional) - This section provides more information to specify the data items for the measure or alternatives to the specified data items.
- Count Actuals Based On. Typical activities or exit criteria for the listed data components. This information determines when a measure is counted as an actual or when an activity or event is complete. Normally, only one of these options is used.
3. Data sources
This defines where the data will be found. In the example, the data source could be the project status reports.
4. Measurement attributes and aggregation structures
- Typical Attributes. Information on data item properties that are used to sort and correlate the project data. For example, the Number of Milestones data item includes attributes of contractor or organization.
- Typical Aggregation Structure. The structure by which data is organized and accumulated to the initiative level. For example, in a Plateau Plan, the aggregation structure could be by project.
5. Frequency of data collection
How often will the data be collected? In this example, it might be from weekly status reports or monthly status reports.
6. Methods of data delivery
How will the data be received? Are that status reports disseminated by e-mail, presentations, or other means.
7. Lines of communication and interfaces
Who will send the data to whom? Will the measurement analyst attend the status meetings? Will the measurement analysis be distributed for all status reports?
8. Frequency of analysis and reporting
How often will the data be reported? The data may be collected weekly, and the reports send out monthly.
9. Roles and responsibilities
This section defines the responsibilities for the collection, analysis, and reporting of the measures.