Abstract

Software project audits and management reviews are powerful methods to verify that software development efforts are in line with their original budget, time, and quality objectives. In doing so, they usually involve the (manual) evaluation of project, process, or product characteristics to detect discrepancies from planned results. Hence, their focus is clearly on management rather than technical issues, which separates them from more quality-enhancing activities, such as software inspections or formal technical reviews. Since software project audits and management reviews are often conducted by third parties—either independent or in-house—they are in fact decision-making tools; that is, they provide the basis and rationale for more effective management decisions.