8 Available online at www.ijcmit.com International Journal of Contemporary Management and Information Technology Volume 1, No 1, November 2020 The Implementation of Software Measurement Programs in Medium and Small Projects: A Systematic Literature Review Yaser Mohammed Al-Hamzi 1 1, Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, University of Technology Malaysia (UTM), Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia Email: mayaser1975@graduate.utm.my Article history Submitted: 15 November, 2020 Revised: 23 November, 2020 Accepted: 27 November, 2020 Abstract In many software organizations, Measures are essential resources for improving quality and controlling costs in software development. Software measurement programs play an important role in testing, evaluating, tracking, assessing, adjusting and analyzing in all phases of software development process. However, there are several challenges in their implementation. Therefore, in this paper, a comprehensive review on the software measurement programs implementation such planning models and tools are provided. A Systematic Literature Review was developed and over 50 relative studies were reviewed and discussed. The determined tools and planning models for MPs are evaluated. Besides the most mitigation strategies for overcome the MPs challenges are determined. Therefore, this SLR could be helpful for the researchers and developers for further improvement on the MPs implementation. Keywords: Systematic literature review Software measurement programs Software matrices Evaluation 1. Introduction Software brings significant roles for business operation management. It can help managing and maintain business in easy way, besides the mitigation of human errors. Moreover, it improves the effectiveness and productivity of the business activities. Therefore, the software development process is the most critical and vital for an organization for growing any business. One of the important process in software development is the software requirement in order to produce a good- quality software system [1]. Software measurement is one of the main requirements required to implement in any kind of software system [2]. Software measurement is known as the process where the planning and evaluation measurement are made within the entire project to assess the quality of the system for well understanding its created models. These measures are obtained during the software development life cycle for continuous improving the software process. This will help in estimation and assists in strategic decision-making as a project proceeds. Software measurement programs (MPs) contribute to the evaluation and improvement of the software processes, products and resources [3]. It contributes in the management of the software process for getting an accurate data as the data flow within the process is managed accordingly [4]. Recently, the software product becomes more complex, which it must require an accurate estimation to manage any software project in order to offer high quality product to the clients [5]. Therefore, in MPs, a number of steps is needed evaluate the measures during the software development process. MPs face challenges in their implementation as approximately 50-80% MPs fail after a year of implementation in a software development process [6]. The reason behind that is the lack of knowledge about the proper measures. MPs require expert judgment for wisely choosing such measures, which are related to the organization goals. Moreover, precise objectives, correct measurement instruments and resources contribute to the successful factor of MPs if they are managed well. If not, MPs will fail to achieve the measurement objectives. Besides the reason of failure that mention earlier, there are some failure reasons were identifies in the literature such as the mismatch between the MP and organization goals and the lack of synchronization between MP outcomes and corrective responses [7]; [8] . To implement a great MP, some essential features are required to be considered for instance the consistency with the client targets, complete data collection and soundness of metrics [9]. Several measurement planning models and tools have been presented in the literature to implement a good MP. Examples of these models are Measurement Information Model, Goal Question Metrics and Goals Questions Indicators Measures [10], [11], [12]. In addition, a number of existing reports worked on the enhancements of the existing models to address the challenges of these models[3] , [13]. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive study and evaluation