Software project management in high maturity: A systematic literature mapping

Abstract

High maturity in software development involves statistically controlling the performance of critical subprocesses and using the predictability thus gained to manage projects with better planning precision and monitoring control. Maturity models such as CMMI mention statistical and other quantitative methods, techniques, and tools supporting high-maturity project management, but do not provide details about them, their use or their available types. Thus, knowledge is lacking on how to support software process improvement initiatives to select and apply statistical and other quantitative methods, techniques and tools in this context. The goal of this study is to identify various methods, techniques, and tools which can assist in high-maturity software project management. By conducting a systematic literature mapping, we identified 108 papers describing 153 contributions. We describe the contributions identified, classifying them by their type, their software technology maturation phase, the method by which they were evaluated, the development methods and characteristics which they support, and the process/indicator areas to which they were applied. We hope this work can help fill the knowledge gap on the statistical and other quantitative methods, techniques and tools actually being proposed, evaluated, experimented with and adopted by organizations to support quantitative high-maturity software project management.