Computer Measurement Group

The Computer Measurement Group (CMG), founded in 1974, is a worldwide non-profit organization of data processing professionals whose work involves measuring and managing the performance of computing systems. In this context, performance is understood to mean the response time of software applications of interest, and the overall capacity (or throughput) characteristics of the system, or of some part of the system.

CMG members are primarily concerned with evaluating and maximizing the performance of existing computer systems and networks, and with capacity management, in which planned enhancements to existing systems or the designs of new systems are evaluated to find the necessary resources required to provide adequate performance at a reasonable cost.

Mission and activities

CMG's purpose is to promote the exchange of technical information among Information Technology (IT) professionals through regional groups, technical publications, and an annual conference. In common with other user groups devoted to a broad range of products or technologies (for example SHARE or DECUS), CMG provides education, networking, and leadership opportunities for its members.

The association's activities provide:

  • Extensive introductory education for new professionals
  • Information on emerging technology as well as methodology for existing performance professionals
  • Forums for the exchange of information, promotion of new ideas, and discussions of management information requirements
  • Focus on practical applications and results oriented methodologies
  • Encouragement for educational institutions to focus on the IT curriculum.

CMG groups

With over thirty regional and international groups, CMG's wide reaching structure emphasizes an extensive information and peer network. Regional groups hold local educational meetings, typically three or four times a year, and many publish informational newsletters. Regional meetings may span a half-day, a full day (the most common), or occasionally two days. International CMG groups also hold their own annual conferences and publish their own conference proceedings.

In the US, Regional CMG groups cover the following areas: Boston, Connecticut, Florida, Greater Atlanta, Kansas City, Midwest, Minneapolis, National Capital Area, New York, Northern California, Northwest, Ohio Valley, Philadelphia, Rocky Mountain, St Louis, Salt Lake City, Southern, Southern California, and South West.

International CMG groups exist in Australia, Austria and Eastern Europe (CMG AE), Canada, Central Europe (CECMG), Italy, China, the Netherlands South Africa, India and the United Kingdom (UKCMG)

Focus areas

CMG allows members to exchange information about the measurement, management and performance of Information technology systems. Topics of particular concern among CMG members include:

Open standards:

  • Apdex—Application Performance Index standard
  • ARM—Application Response Measurement standard

Awards

At its annual conference, CMG presents several awards recognizing outstanding contributions to the field of computer measurement and performance evaluation:

  • The A. A. Michelson Award, first awarded in 1974, is named in honor of Albert Abraham Michelson, known for his technical accomplishments in measuring the speed of light and for his role as teacher and inspirer of others. This award is given to one honoree annually, to recognize the same combination of technical excellence and professional contributions.
  • The J. William Mullen Award, first awarded in 1990, is given in memory of past CMG president Bill Mullen. The award recipient is an individual who exhibits both technical excellence and an engaging presentation style. This was recently won by Ramya Ramalinga Moorthy (from Bangalore, India) in 2017 for her exceptional and engaging presentation style.
  • The CMG Graduate Fellowship program, begun in 1987, is open to full-time graduate students in Computer Science and related fields. It is intended to encourage and support research in the areas of measurement, modeling, management and analysis of system and network performance.
  • Best Paper Awards are given to conference papers judged exemplary by industry peers.

Publications

CMG produces a number of both print and electronic publications. Currently there are four unique publications, the CMG Journal, the CMG Proceedings, the CMG Bulletin and MeasureIT. Membership in CMG is required to obtain copies of the publications with the exception of MeasureIT. In addition, some libraries and Universities have copies of the CMG Journal available for reference use.

The free electronic newsletter, MeasureIT, is written by computer and performance professionals and is distributed around the second Tuesday of every month. Anyone may subscribe to MeasureIT by visiting the CMG MeasureIT homepage.

Annual conference

CMG holds an annual conference for performance professionals from around the world. CMG'11 was held in Washington, D.C., United States, 5–9 December 2011. In 2013 the annual conference was renamed Performance and Capacity 2013 by CMG Conference and held in La Jolla, CA, United States, 4–8 November 2013.

See also

A. A. Michelson Award recipients:

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