"Metrics and Models in Software Quality Engineering" by Stephen H. Kan, published by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company (One Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867), 1995, 344 pages, $39.75 list. A Book Review by Norman C. Frank, PE, CQE, CQA CER Corporation, Washington, DC "Metrics and Models" provides a readable and understandable approach to software quality that includes metrics, models, and quality strategies. Stephen H. Kan has implemented these systems within IBM Rochester, which earned the Malcolm Baldrige Award and has been certified to ISO 9000. This book is written for quality and software development professionals who need to apply quality metrics and controls to their software development and maintenance work. The book begins with a discussion of "what is software quality" and quickly moves to the software development process models. The author discusses seven process models from the waterfall model to the defect prevention process. The synergism of the Malcolm Baldrige criteria and the ISO 9000 elements are shown to build and supplement each where the other needs strengthening. Chapter 3 provides a good introduction to measurement theory, including definitions, basic measures, reliability and validity, measurement errors and criteria for causality. Chapter 4 then takes what we have covered and builds the software quality metrics. The book covers many different ways to measure the quality of the software before coding, during coding, during testing, and after release. Motorola, Hewlett-Packard and IBM Rochester provide concrete examples of different successful approaches. A bonus is Chapter 5, which describes the application of the seven basic quality tools to software development. Again, examples of application provide clear understanding. Chapters 6-10 cover defect removal effectiveness, and the reliability, quality management and complexity quality engineering models, including the Rayleigh model, exponential distribution and reliability growth model, various quality management models, and complexity metrics and models. Chapters 11 and 12 describe customer satisfaction measurement and metrics for software used by IBM Rochester on the Application System/400 (AS/400) computer system. Also described is the Market Driven Quality (MDQ) corporate strategy of IBM that began in the early 1990s. A chapter of concluding remarks helps tie together the information presented in the previous chapters and motivates the reader to start the improvement process within their own company. This book gives you an excellent overview and working knowledge of metrics that can be used to measure and track software quality and several working models for predicting and controlling defects and software quality. Recommended for both quality and software engineers. ---------------- Mr. Frank has over 25 years experience in the field of quality, in the areas of nuclear quality assurance, research and development, and consulting. He is currently in Washington, D.C., with CER Corporation out of Las Vegas, Nevada.