Measurement and analysis involves gathering quantitative data about products, processes, and projects and analyzing that data to influence your actions and plans.
Measurement and analysis activities allow you to
characterize, or gain understanding of your processes, products, resources, and environments
evaluate, to determine your status with respect to your plans
predict, by understanding relationships among processes and products so the values you observe for some attributes can be used to predict others
improve, by identifying roadblocks, root causes, inefficiencies, and other opportunities for improvement