An agenda for research in the managerial evaluation of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tool impacts

It is suggested that the complete lack of validated research demonstrating productivity benefits of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools is due to a number of inherent difficulties in the CASE evaluation process. A research agenda is set forth to address the shortfalls in managers' current ability to evaluate these tools. Managerial impacts that are commonly associated with CASE tools are described, and it is shown why measuring these impacts can be difficult. Additionally, some less commonly cited impacts are raised, and suggestions for research in these areas are made. The importance of models of software development to research in this area is discussed. Three popular research methodologies-experiments, field studies, and surveys-are described, and their limitations are examined.<>