Carol Dekkers, PMP

Founder and Senior Consulting Manager of Quality Plus Technologies, Inc.
6211 Sun Blvd, Suite 103, St Petersburg FL 33715
Phone +1 813-816-1329

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Carol Dekkers is the founder and CEO of Quality Plus Technologies, Inc., an independent project management firm focused on maximizing software success through data-founded solutions. Quality Plus delivers expertise in software measurement, estimation, project management, and international standards by collaborating with prominent consultants across both private and public sectors.

Ms. Dekkers’ expertise is anchored in formal engineering education coupled with years of practical project management and software development industry experience. In 2020-2021 she was the lead author of the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA) Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge (CEBoK-S) based on Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Software Cost Estimating curriculum augmented by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) cost estimating and GAO agile assessment, Software Engineering Institute (SEI) cost estimation best practices[1], International Software Benchmarking Standards Group (ISBSG) data repository guides and other US Department of Defense (DoD) best practice publications.

Ms Dekkers’ strongest talent lies in education and knowledge transfer. She spearheaded the PMI Metrics SIG, participated as a reviewer and contributor to the PMBOK® and has spoken at numerous global and US conferences. In addition to speaking, she has written textbooks and articles and has delivered workshops in over thirty countries. She has always been an independent consultant whose clients gain from her professional toolbox of industry best practices and methods ranging from the PMBOK to agile methodologies (SCRUM) to US DoD (Department of Defense) and Government Accountability Office (GAO) best practices.

Recent consulting projects include development of international software and systems engineering standards (International Organization for Standardization ISO), and authorship of the 2025 SiSE (Simplified Software Estimating) guidebook at the Department of Homeland Security Cost Analysis Division (DHS CAD), a method supporting the Independent Cost Assessments (ICAs) for DHS software intensive programs.

Through a myriad of consulting engagements, Ms Dekkers’ has spearheaded international standards development/publication, functional size measurement initiatives, measurement program design and implementation, and curriculum design and development for technical professionals. Progressively, her toolbox expanded to contain project management tools and methods (Project Management Institute), software cost estimation (CEBoK-S, Government Accountability Office (GAO) cost estimating and agile development guidebooks), functional size measurement (International Function Point Users Group IFPUG) and Common Software Measurement International Consortium (COSMIC) measurement methods), and leadership approaches (Federal Acquisition College Program and Project Management FAC-PPM models.) Her international involvement spans three decades of keynotes, instruction, and consulting across 30+ countries.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

QUALITY PLUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.: CEO and Director of Consulting Services (Incorporated 1994)

· 2019-present: Partnered with international consulting and auditing firm (clients confidential): create detailed software cost estimates to support software intensive programs for state government clients (SME expertise in Medicare/Medicaid; Un and Re-unemployment programs; Logistics; Eligibility programs).

· 2018-present: Partnered with prime contractors: developed Simplified Software Estimation (SiSE) measurement method at Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cost Analysis Division (CAD).

· 2020-2022: Partnered with the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA): Lead author of the Software Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge (CEBoK-S) coordinated and directed a professional team of cost estimating experts to deliver CEBoK-S content aligned with US government (DAU and GAO) standards[2] Quality Plus Technologies, Inc. and Carol Dekkers are licensed to teach CEBoK-S worldwide.

· 2019: US Government National Geospatial Agency (NGA): measurement program consulting/training.

· 2017-2019, 2021-2022: Malaysian Software Testing Board and CustomMedia (Kuala Lumpur): development and delivery of methodology and curriculum for software project management and measurement (function point analysis) for government and private sector organizations with large-scale software development.

· 2017-2018: Partnered with Sylvan Advisors, Inc.: Expert witness work - led a team of specialized software program professionals to develop independent cost assessments for a multi-million-dollar litigation case.

· 2017– 2018: Partnered with Mosaica Partners: Performed independent verification and validation of project management service delivery and governance for the MD state government’s Healthcare CRISP program. Scope spanned overall governance, agile program management, goal achievement and performance metrics.

· 2016 – 2019: Partnered with McNulty & Associates: Coordinate and prepare software estimates for clients as part of Price-to-Win contracts.

· 2012-2019: Quantitative Software Management (QSM) Inc.: senior consultant on client engagements to design and deliver software project measurement and cost analysis workshops

· 2013-2015: Channel 4, London, UK: Managed the outsourcing governance of software development initiatives for Channel 4’s (UK) agreement with an India-based software development firm.

· 2015: US Department of Defense: Pentagon: Delivered project management professional (PMP) preparation online 5-day workshops for Pentagon professionals (coast to coast locations).

· 2012-2014: Learning Tree International: instructed Federal Acquisition College Program and Project Management (FAC-PPM) capstone program for Veterans Affairs acquisition professionals.

· 2010-2012: Proctor and Gamble. Spearheaded the implementation of the global “Productivity Marker.”

· 2008-2014: Compass Analysis contracts: Project performance measurement for multiple application development portfolio assessment initiatives resulting in multi-million-dollar process improvement programs for major corporate clients. Variously includes process design and rollout, staff engagement and training, mentoring of professionals (to maximize productivity on metrics initiatives), FP (function point) coaching, measurement audits, results presentation, and communication to executives. At client request, statistical analysis on portfolio FP results (for estimating, benchmarking, productivity measurement, process improvement, et cetera).

· 1994-1998: Eckerd Drugs/IBM: Performed benchmarking for senior management on Eckerd Drugs / IBM outsourcing agreement involving productivity analysis and process improvement.

· US Federal Government Agencies supported: Defense Acquisition University DAU (Dayton, OH and Fort Lee, VA), NGA, US Air Force, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Medicare, National Security Agency (NSA), DHS.

PUBLICATIONS

· The IT Measurement Compendium: Estimating and Benchmarking Success with Functional Size Measurement, Springer, Germany 2008.

· Program Management Toolkit for Software and Systems Development, Talentum, Finland 2008.

· Practical Software Project Estimation, International Software Benchmarking Standards Group, Australia 2010.

· Over sixty published industry journal articles in CrossTalk, the Journal of Defense Software Engineering; MetricViews (IFPUG); ICEAA Journal, PMI Journal, and others (1998-present).

AWARDS

· 2023 Global Leadership Award for Pro Bono by Computer Magazine.

· 2022 Educator of the Year by the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA).

· 2022 Honorary Fellow, International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG).

· 2000 Named as one of the 21 New Voices for the 21st Century, Quality Progress, American Society for Quality.

· 2025 Recognition as project co-editor of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for Software Non-functional Sizing Measurement (SNAP).

CERTIFICATIONS

· Project Management Institute Project Management Professional (PMP).

· ICEAA SCEC (Software Cost Estimating Certified).

· IFPUG Certified Function Point Specialist – Fellow (CFPS-Fellow).

· Agile Alliance Certified Scrum Master (CSM).

· Professional Engineer Association of Profession Engineers and Geologists of Alberta (APEGA) Canada.

FOOTNOTES

[1] GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Developing and Managing Program Costs, GAO-20-195G (2020) and GAO Agile Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Adoption and Implementation [Reissued with revisions on Dec. 15, 2023] GAO-24-105506

[2] Ibid