Evaluating the Performance of Software Engineering Professionals - Just Out From the IEEE Computer Society

Los Alamitos, Calif. January 2005 — Most common means of reviewing software engineering professionals actually have the effect of demotivating them and reducing their performance level. Armed with this knowledge, this ReadyNote explores an alternative method for evaluating personnel based on the Balanced Scorecard. Although initially applied to corporate strategy development, the Balanced Scorecard has proven itself flexible enough for use in a broad range of applications, including personnel evaluation.

Written by Lawrence Peters, a software engineering professional with more than 35 years of experience, this tutorial is intended primarily for software engineering managers who strive to improve the performance of software engineering professionals. The author starts by explaining the nature of software engineering professionals and managers, discusses the role of software engineering managers and sources of problems they might encounter, and outlines the Balanced Scorecard and the Strategy Based Evaluation Method. The basic cost for this ReadyNote is $19, with discounts available for instructors.

ReadyNotes is a new tutorial series from the IEEE Computer Society, focusing on hands-on advice for practicing software developers, chip designers, computing researchers, and students. Falling somewhere between academic papers and full-on books in length, these 25,000-word tutorials will be periodically upgraded and available only in PDF form, from http://www.computer.org/readynotes. Other titles will include:

• A Survey of 3D Graphics Software Tools
• IEEE Software Engineering Standards Support for the CMMI Project Planning Process Area
• The Poor Person’s Guide to Estimating Software Costs
• Digital Avionics: A Computing Perspective
• Introduction to Python for Artificial Intelligence
• Designing Databases with Object-Oriented Methods


About the IEEE Computer Society
The IEEE Computer Society is the world’s leading association of computing professionals with 100,000 members in over 140 countries. Founded in 1946 and today the largest society within the IEEE, this not-for-profit organization is the authoritative provider of technical information and services for computing communities worldwide. It offers a full range of career enhancing products and services through its 124,000-article digital library, 20+ peer-reviewed print publications, distance learning courseware, online technical books, 150 technical conferences, standards development, 32 technical committees, certification for software professionals, 200 local society chapters, awards and scholarships, and much more. Visit IEEE Computer Society at www.computer.org.