The Business Case for Software Reuse: Reuse Metrics, Economic Models, Organizational Issues, and Case Studies

Abstract

Successfully introducing a reuse program into an organization requires many things, such as proven processes, an organization for reuse, and management support. However, management needs to understand the value of reuse before they will allocate resources. Key to showing this value is a business case based on consistent, realistic, and easy to understand metrics. I have found that combining realistic assumptions with simple, easy-to-understand metrics often provides the incentive needed to “sell” reuse to management.