Title: Measuring changes in software product line – an experience report

Authors: Samuel A. Ajila, Antonio J. Bailetti

Addresses: Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada. ' Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada

Abstract: This paper presents the result of a study on the changes that occurred in the product line of a telecommunications equipment supplier because of the top management decision to change the product line|s target market. The study examines six years of data and identifies potential relationships between changes in the product line and changes in three other layers (customer, inner context and product). Some of the key findings are the following. First, sales are negatively related to product line growth and positively related to design turnover and the number of designers assigned to the product line. Second, there is no relationship between the size of the code added to the product line and the number of designers required to develop and test it. Third, there is a positive relationship between designer turnover and impact of change. Finally, market downturn has an explicit impact on software development activities.

Keywords: product line; product evolution; customer; inner context; change processes; metrics; target markets; telecommunications equipment; product design; product development; software development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2006.009361

International Journal of Product Development, 2006 Vol.3 No.2, pp.123 - 142

Published online: 23 Mar 2006 *

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