Practical software estimation: function point methods for insourced and outsourced projects

✍ Scribed by Parthasarathy, M A

• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 427
• Series: Infosys Press
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

"A clearly written book that is a useful primer for a very complicated set of topics."--Capers Jones, Chief Scientist Emeritus, Software Productivity Research LLCPractical Software Estimationbrings together today's most valuable tips, techniques, and best practices for accurately estimating software project efforts, costs, and schedules. Written by a leading expert in the field, it addresses the full spectrum of real-world challenges faced by those who must develop reliable estimates. M. A. Parthasarathy draws on the immense experience of Infosys, one of the world's largest and most respected providers of IT-enabled business solutions, to bring you the only book with detailed guidance on estimating insourced and outsourced software projects, as well as projects that blend both approaches. He demonstrates how to successfully utilize Function Point (FP) methods, the industry's leading estimation model. Then, using real case studies, he systematically identifies pitfalls that can lead to inaccurate estimates--and offers proven solutions. Coverage includes
How to estimate all types of software projects, including "fresh" development, reengineering, and maintenance How to incorporate the impact of core project elements on estimates: scope, environment, experience, and tools FP analysis from start to finish: data and transaction functions, general system characteristics, and more FP methods for any platform or business function Innovative re-estimation methods to track progress How to quote RFPs and prepare contracts: fixed price, time/material, and project execution lifecycle models Alternatives to FP: Delphi, COCOMO II, and COSMIC-FFP How to choose the right estimation toolsPractical Software Estimationis the definitive reference for anyone who must estimate software projects accurately: project and IT managers, individual developers, system designers, architects, executives, consultants, and outsourcers alike.

List of Figures
List of Tables
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Role of Estimation in Software Projects
Chapter 3: A Study of Function Point Analysis
Chapter 4: Data Functions
Chapter 5: Transactional Functions
Chapter 6: General System Characteristics
Chapter 7: Size, Effort, and Scheduling of Projects
Chapter 8: Estimation Flavors
Chapter 9: A Sense of Where You Are
Chapter 10: Tips, Tricks, and Traps
Chapter 11: Insourcing versus Outsourcing
Chapter 12: Key Factors in Software Contracts
Chapter 13: Project Estimation and Costing
Chapter 14: Other Estimation Methods
Chapter 15: Estimation Tools
Chapter 16: Estimation Case Study
Appendix A: Reference Tables: Transaction Function Counts
Appendix B: Reference Tables: Data Function Points
Bibliography
Index

✦ Table of Contents

Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 8
List of Figures......Page 18
List of Tables......Page 20
Foreword......Page 26
Preface......Page 28
Acknowledgments......Page 34
What Is Software Estimation?......Page 36
Work Environment......Page 41
Usage of Tools......Page 42
Software Project Estimation......Page 43
Project Scope......Page 44
Software Environment......Page 45
Software Development Tools......Page 46
Continuous Improvement Cycle......Page 47
Why Software Estimation?......Page 50
Metrics—Past, Present, and Future......Page 51
Importance of Estimation......Page 53
Estimation—Who and How......Page 54
Conclusion......Page 56
References......Page 57
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 58
Software Projects and Estimation......Page 60
Project Budget Approval Phase......Page 61
Project Contract Phase......Page 62
Project Execution Phase......Page 63
Estimation and Measurement......Page 66
Estimation and Measurement Complexities......Page 67
Modularized Estimation......Page 69
Case Study—Modularized Estimation......Page 72
Large Application Systems......Page 75
Heterogeneous Portfolio of Application Systems......Page 76
Conclusion......Page 77
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 78
Why Estimation?......Page 80
What Is an Estimation Method?......Page 81
What Is a Function Point?......Page 82
Function Point as a Measuring Yardstick......Page 84
Uses and Benefits of Function Points......Page 85
Function Point Analysis......Page 86
FPA—Objectives......Page 88
The FPA Model......Page 90
The FPA Process......Page 92
Conclusion......Page 105
References......Page 107
Introduction......Page 108
A Data File Example......Page 109
Data Functions Defined by IFPUG......Page 110
ILFs and EIFs......Page 111
Embedded Terms......Page 112
Rules for Identification of ILFs and EIFs......Page 115
Determining Complexity of ILFs and EIFs......Page 116
Complexity and FP Count Contributions......Page 121
Tips to Remember......Page 123
Identifying ILF/EIF: User View versus Developer View......Page 130
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 131
Introduction......Page 132
Definition of Transactions......Page 133
Ingredients of a Transaction......Page 135
Transactional Functions Defined by IFPUG......Page 137
External Inquiry......Page 139
Embedded Terms......Page 140
Rules for Identification of EI, EO, and EQ......Page 142
External Inputs......Page 146
Step-by-Step FP Contribution Calculation Process......Page 147
CRUD Transactions......Page 150
Invoice System—FP Counting Process......Page 151
Conclusion......Page 153
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 154
Introduction......Page 156
Functional Requirements......Page 157
Introduction to General System Characteristics......Page 158
Guidelines for General System Characteristics......Page 160
GSC-2: Distributed Data Processing......Page 161
GSC-4: Heavily Used Configuration......Page 162
GSC-6: Online Data Entry......Page 164
GSC-7: End-User Efficiency......Page 165
GSC-9: Complex Processing......Page 166
GSC-10: Reusability......Page 167
GSC-12: Operational Ease......Page 169
GSC-14: Facilitate Change......Page 170
GSC and NFR......Page 172
Tiers......Page 174
ISO/IEC 14143-1: Definition of User Requirements......Page 175
From the Dinosaur Era to the Jet Age......Page 176
The Relationship among GSC, NFR, and Technology Platform......Page 178
Case Study......Page 180
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 182
Key Inputs to Software Sizing......Page 184
Differentiate Functions from Production Effort/Costs......Page 185
Function Point Analysis Method......Page 187
Size—The Differentiator......Page 189
Inputs to Sizing......Page 190
Source of Inputs......Page 191
Accuracy of Requirements......Page 192
Role of Size in the Software Development Lifecycle......Page 193
Productivity Drivers......Page 194
Software Development Environment......Page 195
Productivity Measurement......Page 196
Productivity......Page 197
Effort and Schedule......Page 198
Deriving Effort......Page 199
Resource Loading......Page 200
Conclusion......Page 202
References......Page 203
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 204
Change Forever......Page 206
Functional Decomposition of Modules......Page 208
Case Study—Invoicing Application......Page 209
Development—Function Point Analysis Method......Page 211
Reengineering Projects......Page 212
Reengineering—Function Point Analysis Method......Page 214
Migration Projects......Page 217
Maintenance Projects......Page 218
Request for Service......Page 219
Estimating Maintenance Requests—Function Point Analysis......Page 220
Case Study—Maintenance Request......Page 221
Complexity in Estimation of Request for Service......Page 223
References......Page 227
On the Right Track, On Time......Page 228
Pervasive Estimations......Page 231
The Rippling Effect......Page 232
Agile Software Projects......Page 234
Case Study......Page 237
Estimation Maturity......Page 243
Mentor and Monitor Estimation Methods......Page 245
Conclusion......Page 246
References......Page 247
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 248
Setting the Context......Page 250
Estimate Invisible Overheads......Page 251
Tip 1: Project Team Size......Page 252
Tip 2: Lifecycle Model......Page 253
Tip 5: Proof-of-Concept......Page 255
Trick 1: Manipulating Project Costs......Page 256
Trick 2: The Balancing Effect......Page 257
Trick 3: User versus Developer View......Page 258
Trick 4: Accuracy of Inputs to Estimation......Page 259
Trap 1: Estimation Tools......Page 260
Trap 3: GSC—The Killer......Page 261
Trap 4: Application Size and Delivery Schedule......Page 263
Trap 5: Caution while Counting FP of Existing Applications......Page 264
Conclusion......Page 265
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 266
Introduction......Page 268
The Insourcing IT Organization......Page 269
The Outsourcing IT Organization......Page 271
Insourcing Estimation......Page 274
Outsourcing Estimation......Page 275
Insourcing versus Outsourcing: Pros and Cons......Page 277
Reference......Page 282
Introduction......Page 284
The Fixed Price Contract......Page 285
The Time and Material Contract......Page 287
The Flexible Contract......Page 290
Project Execution Methods......Page 292
References......Page 298
Ingredients of Project Costs......Page 300
Requirements Phase......Page 301
Design Phase......Page 303
Build and Test Phase......Page 304
Lifecycle Model......Page 305
Develop a Cost Matrix......Page 306
Estimation and TCO......Page 307
Conclusion......Page 309
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 310
Estimation Methods......Page 312
Estimation Approaches......Page 313
Top-Down Estimation Approach......Page 314
The Bottom-Up Approach......Page 318
Parametric Approach......Page 320
COCOMO II Model......Page 321
COSMIC-FFP Method......Page 323
Estimation Models Pros and Cons......Page 326
References......Page 329
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 330
Why Use Tools?......Page 332
Ingredients of a Good Estimation Tool......Page 333
Deploying Estimation Tools in IT Organizations......Page 335
List of Tools......Page 337
Conclusion......Page 340
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 341
Basic Assumptions......Page 342
Step-by-Step FP Counting Process (Development Projects)......Page 344
Case Study: 1—Invoicing System......Page 347
Invoice Module......Page 350
Step-by-Step FP Counting Process (Enhancement Projects)......Page 385
Assessing the Impact of Enhancing the Invoice Application......Page 387
Other Interesting Reading Material......Page 394
Reference Table to Calculate ILF/EIF FP Count......Page 396
Reference Table to Calculate Total FP Count......Page 397
Reference Table to Calculate VAF from GSC—Total Degree of Influence......Page 398
Internal Logical Files and External Interface Files......Page 400
External Inputs/External Outputs/External Inquiries......Page 401
Bibliography......Page 404
B......Page 408
C......Page 409
D......Page 410
E......Page 411
F......Page 413
G......Page 414
I......Page 415
L......Page 416
O......Page 417
P......Page 418
R......Page 419
S......Page 420
T......Page 421
U......Page 422
W......Page 423