There sometimes is a decidedly dark side to software metrics that many of us have observed, but few have openly discussed. It is clear to me that we often get what we ask for with software metrics and we sometimes get side effects from the metrics that overshadow any value we might derive from the metrics information. Whether or not our models are correct, and regardless of how well or poorly we collect and compute software metrics, people’s behaviors change in predictable ways to provide the answers management asks for when metrics are applied. I believe most people in this field are hard working and well intentioned, and even though some of the behaviors caused by metrics may seem strange, odd, or even silly, they are serious responses created in organizations because of the use of metrics. Some of these actions seriously hamper productivity and can effectively reduce quality.
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