## What is Goal-Question-Metric Approach (GQM)? The Goal-Question-Metric (GQM) approach is a method used in software development to measure and control the quality of a product. It was developed by Victor Basili of the University of Maryland, College Park. The GQM approach involves setting goals for a product, defining questions that interpret those goals, and specifying metrics to answer those questions. This approach allows for more systematic determination and use of metrics. 1. **Goals**: These are defined for an object, for a variety of reasons, with respect to various models of quality, from various points of view and relative to a particular environment. 2. **Questions**: Each goal is refined into several questions which help in understanding if the goals are being met and what needs to be done to achieve them. 3. **Metrics**: Each question is then refined into metrics that can provide quantifiable answers to the questions. The GQM approach provides a structured way to define goals based on the business strategy, then track those goals through quantifiable data. --- ## Getting Started Before implementing the GQM approach, a team needs to understand their business objectives and identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with these objectives. This will help them define clear, measurable goals. Once the goals are set, the team can then identify the questions that need to be answered in order to achieve these goals. These questions should be specific and relevant to the goals. After defining the questions, the team can then determine which metrics will provide answers to these questions. These metrics should be quantifiable and directly related to the questions. The GQM approach requires regular monitoring and evaluation of metrics to ensure that they are providing useful information and contributing towards achieving the goals. If a metric is not providing valuable insights or helping in goal achievement, it may need to be revised or replaced. In summary, implementing GQM involves: 1. Understanding business objectives and KPIs. 2. Defining clear, measurable goals. 3. Identifying specific questions related to each goal. 4. Determining quantifiable metrics that answer these questions. 5. Regularly monitoring and evaluating metrics for effectiveness. This approach helps teams focus on what’s important, measure their progress towards achieving their goals, and make data-driven decisions. --- ## Tags #SoftwareDevelopment #QualityManagement #GoalQuestionMetric #GQM #BusinessStrategy --- ## Related Concepts 1. [[Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)]]: These are the measurable values that demonstrate how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives. KPIs are used in the GQM approach to help define clear, measurable goals. 2. [[Business Objective|Business Objectives]]: These are the results a company aims to achieve over a specific period of time. They provide direction for all business activities and are crucial in defining goals in the GQM approach. 3. [[Software Development]]: The GQM approach was developed specifically for use in software development to measure and control the quality of a product. It provides a structured way to define goals based on business strategy, track those goals through quantifiable data, and make data-driven decisions. 4. [[Quality Management]]: The GQM approach is a method used in quality management to ensure that a product or service is consistent. It focuses on improving the quality of a product by identifying relevant goals, questions, and metrics. 5. [[Business Strategy]]: This refers to the methods a company uses to achieve its business objectives. In the GQM approach, business strategy is used to define goals for a product or service. 6. [[Data-Driven Decision Making]]: This involves making decisions based on actual data rather than intuition or observation alone. The GQM approach supports data-driven decision making by providing quantifiable metrics that can be used to assess progress towards goals. 7. [[Metrics]]: These are quantifiable measures that are used to track and assess the status of a specific business process. In the GQM approach, metrics are determined for each question related to a goal in order to provide quantifiable answers.