A Software Development Company Is Designing an Evaluation Plan for Its

question 37

Short Answer

A software development company is designing an evaluation plan for its software programmers. The company feels that changes are necessary because it lacks the facts it needs to distinguish outstanding software programmers from those that are only average, or worse. Previously, the company paid software programmers a flat salary and based evaluations on supervisors' opinions. Now, however, the company is considering the following measures for its software programmers:
Measurement Strategy Alpha: Software programmers will be evaluated based on the total number of lines of code that they produce.
Measurement Strategy Beta: Software programmers will be evaluated based on their ability to produce computer code that is free of errors.
Measurement Strategy Gamma: Software programmers will be evaluated based on the market success of the products they produce.
The choice to use only Measurement Strategy Gamma would be vulnerable to criticism in what way?
Many factors other than software programming are required for market success.
It sets up a goal that is unattainable.
It underestimates the effect that good software programming can have on the customer's experience.
It would require the company to change its current approach to evaluating software programmers.
It fails to establish a goal that requires any significant effort to achieve.

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Definitions:

Cash Dividends

Payments made by a corporation to its shareholders from its profits.

Free Cash Flow

The amount of cash a company generates after accounting for cash outflows to support operations and maintain capital assets.

Net Income

The profit of a company after all expenses and taxes have been subtracted from revenue.

Cash Dividend

A payment made by a corporation to its shareholders, usually in the form of cash, out of its profits.