An overhaul of Army policy for software test and evaluation has been recently issued through Army Regulation 73-1. Detailed procedures to implement this policy are defined in DA Pamphlet 73-1, Part 7, Software Test and Evaluation Guidelines. Although these documents are still in draft, in October 1992 Mr. Walter W. Hollis, Deputy Under Secretary of the Army (Operations Research), directed that the draft documents be implemented immediately for interim use.
The most significant impact of the new software T&E policy on the Army software development process is the Army Software Metrics Program. The Metrics Program is defined in Chapter 17 of DA Pamphlet 73-1, Part 7. Chapter 17 provides comprehensive information to allow Army managers to implement and utilize the Army Software Metrics. Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) which define the specific data elements to be collected for the Army Metrics are provided as an appendix to the Pamphlet. Since 4 January 1993, the Army Director of Information Systems for Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (DISC4) has required collection of the Army Metrics on all software-intensive system development programs. Metrics shall be collected during development and maintenance of all Army software, including Automated Information Systems and Mission Critical Computer Resources.
The Army has recently completed development of the Software Metrics Management Information System (SMMIS) and disk copies were mailed to all Army Program Offices on 15 April 1994. SMMIS is a tool which will assist Army managers to implement and manage the Software Metrics Program. SMMIS operates on DOS-compatible PC's and will support all the data requirements and presentation formats for software metrics data outlined in Chapter 17 of DA Pamphlet 73-1, Part 7. The most significant benefits of SMMIS to an Army manager are to provide a local repository for metrics data and to create the standard output reports and graphical data displays which are recommended by Chapter 17. SMMIS outputs will allow Army managers to track the progress of a software-intensive project and to consistently evaluate the quality of software products.
Every Army office should be capable of immediate installation of the PC-version of SMMIS which has been distributed. The PC-version of SMMIS operates on a standard IBM-compatible PC with the MS DOS operating system of 3.3 or higher. The SMMIS architecture uses Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) database management systems to provide 4GL and distributed database capabilities.
In accordance with paperwork reduction policies, complete User's and Operator's Manuals for SMMIS are provided as electronic files on the master disk which was mailed to all addressees. The Army has also established a help desk to answer any questions or troubleshoot problems which are experienced in the installation or operation of SMMIS. Help may be obtained by contacting:
SMMIS Central Database Administrator (DBA)
(703) 756-0823, DSN 289-0823, Fax: (703) 756-5809/7672, DSN
289-5809/7672.
Additional information and training on SMMIS-PC and the Army Software Metrics Program can also be obtained through the SMMIS Central Database Administrator. Formal demonstrations of SMMIS may be arranged upon request. A training program has been developed to provide Army managers with an understanding of the requirements of DA Pamphlet 73-1, Part 7. This comprehensive five-day training program has been developed in a modular format to address three levels of Army management:
Mr. Ray Paul
Software Director, Technical Integration Office
USAOEC (CSTE-EZT)
4501 Ford Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22302-1458
(703) 756-1817, Fax: (703) 756-7586