The Effects of GQM+Strategies on Organizational Alignment

The increasing role of software for developing products and services requires that organizations align their software-related activities with high-level business goals. In practice, this alignment is very difficult and only little systematic support is available. GQM+Strategies is a method that aims at aligning organizational goals, strategies, and measurements at all levels of an organization in a seamless way. This article describes a case study of applying GQM+Strategies in a globally operating industrial R&D organization developing special-purpose device products for B2B customers. The study analyzes how GQM+Strategies has helped clarify and harmonize the goal set of the organization. Results of the study indicate improved alignment and integration of different goals. In addition, the method helped to make the initially informal goal-setting more transparent and consequently enabled revising it while new, more important goals were discovered and comprehended. Moreover, several elements affecting the achievement of goals as well as impediments were identified.