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ESTIMATION USING SOFTWARE METRICS


Course Outline

Functional size is the primary (though not the only) determinant of software project duration and cost. Function Point Analysis (FPA), which can be applied early in the software life cycle, is a recognised and mature method for measuring the functionality provided by software intensive systems. FPA provides clear mapping to modern software engineering processes, methods and techniques.

Many other factors affect accurate estimates: organisational delivery capability, clarity of specifications, technical platform, programming language and more. The course delivers practical, industry-standard techniques for assessing each of these factors.

"Good judgment comes from experience...

... and experience comes from bad judgment."

This is especially true for those charged with the difficulties of 'guesstimation' of software development projects where cost and duration estimates early in a project's lifecycle can often underpin later budget 'overruns', unmet deadlines, bickering team members and dissatisfied clients.

This overview course will provide you with management strategies and industry-standard practical tools to create, manage, track and communicate estimates, from early specification, team constitution and budget discussions through to Post-Implementation reviews. The techniques learned here are closely coupled to scope management, which is reviewed in the context of the estimation process.

The course has been developed in association with the International Software Benchmarking Standards Group (ISBSG) and includes material from the International Function Point User's Group (IFPUG), two of the leading organisations in the expanding field of software metrics. We draw on industry experience of what works and what doesn't, as well as actual estimating experiences from the completed projects contained in the ISBSG software project repository

Outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

  • Understand and apply the concept of Function Point Analysis (IFPUG)
  • Understand the strengths and weaknesses of various formal approaches to the estimation process, including: Analogy, Comparison, Equations, Function Point Analysis (IFPUG & COSMIC-FFP), Wide-band Delphi, Project Histories, and Industry Experience
  • Understand how to apply those approaches along with the non-size factors that impact on estimates
  • Understand techniques for managing scope, time or cost compression demands
  • Apply FPA to Project Estimation and Scope Management

Book Course Now

Click on a date or location below to register for this course:

Please Note: Special prices are available for an In House delivery of this course. Read about the benefits and choices of our 'In House' course delivery option here.

Contact an Object Training Account Manager to enquire about alternative delivery options (such as In House or Customisation).

*All Australian prices are exclusive of GST

*If the course status is FULL, please contact object training on 1300 360 203 for further options.

Location Days Dates Cost(ex GST) Course Status

Melbourne

2.0

26/10/10 - 27/10/10

$1,280.00

Available

Sydney

2.0

18/11/10 - 19/11/10

$1,280.00

Available

Topics Covered

Estimation Techniques

Bottom up project estimation

Analogy

Comparison

Equations

Function Point Analysis (IFPUG & COSMIC-FFP)

Wide-band Delphi

Scope Management

Requirement traps

Tying estimates to scope

Reporting Templates

Function Point Analysis

Application Boundary

Data in motion: Transactions

Data at rest: Files

Evaluating processing complexity

Unadjusted Function Point Count

Environment complexity: General System Characteristics

Adjusted Function Point Count

Whole-of-Project estimates

Estimation Using FPA (IFPUG)

Estimation Context

Duration & Team Size

Project Delivery Rate

Uncertainty Factor

Estimation Validation

Overview the Software Metrics Discipline

History and Current Issues Overview of Software Metrics

International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG)

International Software Benchmarking Standards Group (ISBSG)

Emerging Method Overview - COSMIC-Full Function Points

Prerequisites

To gain the most from this course, participants should have fundamental understanding of:

  • Project Management
  • Software Engineering Processes
  • Requirements Specification

Audience

Software Team Leaders, Development Project Managers, Developers, Business/Requirements Analysts, or anyone involved in software development projects who requires knowledge of software estimation techniques, including client and delivery management staff

Course Fee

$1,280.00 ex gst

Duration

Two Days

Structure

Presentations, demonstrations & class exercises

Material

Deliverable material for this course includes:

  • Certificate of Accomplishment
  • Professionally printed student notes and exercises
  • CD containing original exercises and source code (For PC-based courses only)

For all courses, but particularly PC-based courses, students are encouraged bring their own USB drive to save worked solutions and/or additional reference material.

Terms and Conditions

Please click here to review our terms and conditions before booking on your course

Course Discounts

A discount may be available for this course and may be based on multiple bookings, In House delivery, or contract order agreements.

Please enquire about discounts with your Object Training Account Manager