Practical experiences and value of applying software analytics for managing quality
Anna Maria Vollmer, Silverio Martínez-Fernández, Alessandra Bagnato, Jari Partanen, Pilar Rodriguez Gonzalez and Lidia Lopez
Abstract. Background: Despite the growth of usage of software analytics platforms in industry, little empirical evidence is available about the challenges that practitioners face and the value that these platforms give. Aim: The goal of this research is to explore the benefits from using a software analytics platform for practitioners managing quality. Method: In a technology transfer project, a software analytics platform was incrementally developed between academic and industrial partners to address their software quality problems. This platform was used in two pilot projects. This paper focuses on exploring the value provided by a software analytics platform in these pilot projects. Results: Practitioners have emphasized main benefits including the semiautomated functionality of creating quality requirements, the improvement of product quality and process performance, and an
increased awareness of product readiness. They have especially perceived the semi-automated functionality of creating quality requirements out of the software analytics platform as the
benefit with the highest impact and most novel value for them. Conclusions: Practice can benefit from modern software analytics platforms, especially if they have time to adopt it carefully and
integrate it into their quality assurance activities.
