Analyzing the Similarity among Software Projects to Improve Software Project Monitoring Processes

Software project monitoring and control is crucial to detect deviation considering the project plan and to take appropriate actions, when needed. However, to determine which action should be taken is not an easy task, since project managers have to analyze the context of the deviation event and search for actions that were successfully taken on previous similar contexts, trying to repeat the effectiveness of these actions. To do so, usually managers use previous projects data or their own experience, and frequently there is no measure or similarity criteria formally established. Thus, in this paper we present the results of a survey that aimed to identify characteristics that can determine the similarity among software projects and also a measure to indicate the level of similarity among them. A recommendation system to support the execution of corrective actions based on previous projects is also described. We believe these results can support the improvement of software project monitoring process, providing important knowledge to project managers in order to improve monitoring and control activities on the projects.