What process metrics might be used to assess maintainability?

What process metrics might be used to assess maintainability?

Answer: Examples of process metrics that can be used for assessing maintainability are as follows:

1. Number of requests for corrective maintenance: An increase in the number of bug and failure reports may indicate that more errors are being introduced into the program than are being repaired during the maintenance process. This may indicate a decline in maintainability.

2. Average time required for impact analysis: This reflects the number of program components that are affected by the change request. If this time increases, it implies more and more components are affected and maintainability is decreasing.

3. Average time taken to implement a change request: This is not the same as the time for impact analysis although it may correlate with it. This is the amount of time that you need to modify the system and its documentation, after you have assessed which components are affected. An increase in the time needed to implement a change may indicate a decline in maintainability.

4. Number of outstanding change requests: An increase in this number over time may imply a decline in maintainability.