The Motorola software engineering benchmark program: Organization, directions, and results

In mid-1991, teams of Motorola´s senior executives, software engineering technologists, and researchers chartered to provide the future software management and technology directions in Motorola, joined forces to develop and execute a benchmark program for software engineering. The author has managed this program since its inception. The goal of the program is to determine and continuously monitor best practices throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. Nearly two years later, this program has identified a set of best practices, collected and analyzed software quality improvement trends, and evaluated software engineering competency in over twenty leading companies worldwide. This paper discusses the benchmarking program, placing emphasis on program organization, directions, and results as well as program impact on Motorola. The paper includes a summary of insights gained and current program directions