Estimating Software Costs

Overview

Deliver bug-free software projects on schedule and within budget

Get a clear, complete understanding of how to estimate software costs, schedules, and quality using the real-world information contained in this comprehensive volume. Find out how to choose the correct hardware and software tools, develop an appraisal strategy, deploy tests and prototypes, and produce accurate software cost estimates. Plus, you'll get full coverage of cutting-edge estimating approaches using Java, object-oriented methods, and reusable components.

• Plan for and execute project-, phase-, and activity-level cost estimations
• Estimate regression, component, integration, and stress tests
• Compensate for inaccuracies in data collection, calculation, and analysis
• Assess software deliverables and data complexity
• Test design principles and operational characteristics using software prototyping
• Handle configuration change, research, quality control, and documentation costs 

"Capers Jones' work offers a unique contribution to the understanding of the economics of software production. It provides deep insights into why our advances in computing are not matched with corresponding improvements in the software that drives it. This book is absolutely required reading for an understanding of the limitations of our technological advances." --Paul A. Strassmann, former CIO of Xerox, the Department of Defense, and NASA

Table of contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Section 1 Introduction to Software Cost Estimation
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 The Origins of Software Cost Estimation
Chapter 3 Six Forms of Software Cost Estimation
Chapter 4 Software Cost Estimating Tools and Project Success and Failure Rates
Chapter 5 Sources of Error in Software Cost Estimation
Section 2 Preliminary Estimation Methods
Chapter 6 Manual Software Estimating Methods
Chapter 7 Manual Software Estimating Methods Derived from Agile Projects and New
Chapter 8 Automated Estimates from Minimal Data
Section 3 Sizing Software Deliverables
Chapter 9 Sizing Software Deliverables
Section 4 Cost Estimating Adjustment Factors
Chapter 10 Compensation and Work-Pattern Adjustments
Chapter 11 Activity Pattern Adjustment Factors
Chapter 12 Software Technology Adjustment Factors
Section 5 Activity-Based Software Estimating
Chapter 13 Estimating Software Requirements
Chapter 14 Estimating Software Prototypes
Chapter 15 Estimating Software Specifications and Design
Chapter 16 Estimating Design Inspections
Chapter 17 Estimating Programming or Coding
Chapter 18 Estimating Code Inspections
Chapter 19 Estimating Software Configuration Control and Change Management
Chapter 20 Estimating Software Testing
Chapter 21 Estimating User and Project Documentation
Chapter 22 Estimating Software Project Management
Section 6 Maintenance and Enhancement Cost Estimating
Chapter 23 Maintenance and Enhancement Estimating
Chapter 24 Software Cost-Estimating Research Issues
Index

Biographical note

Capers Jones is a leading authority in the world of software estimating. He was the founder and chairman of Software Productivity Research, where he currently serves as chief scientist emeritus.