Software Cost Estimation

[rjames]

Software Cost Estimation is widely considered to be a weak link in software project management. It requires a significant amount of effort to perform it correctly. Errors in Software Cost Estimation can be attributed to a variety of factors. Various studies in the last decade indicated that 3 out of 4 Software projects are not finished on time or within budget or both

Who is responsible for Software Cost Estimation?
The group of people responsible for creating a software cost estimate can vary with each organization. However the following is possible in most scenarios -

- People who are directly involved with the implementation are involved in the estimate.
- Project Manager is responsible for producing realistic cost estimates.
- Project Managers may perform this task on their own or consult with programmers responsible.
- Various studies indicate that if the programmers responsible for development are involved in the estimation it was more accurate. The programmers have more motivation to meet the targets if they were involved in the estimation process.

Continue with the article.

[cyrus]

Software Cost Estimation is process of estimation of amount of effort required for building and implementing of the software. The cost estimation for the software involves various factors among which Size of the software also takes a vital part.

[sammy]

The size of the software is measured by the two factors lines of code and function points. The lines of code as the name implies reflects the number of lines of code. Function points is the size in terms of the amount of functionality in a system.

[sudipta82]

Function point is emerging as the best tool for software estimation as it is independent of technologies used in a project.
It emphasize on the functionality of the software package that the user expected and received.

learn more about function point on IFPUG(International Function Point User group) web site.


Thanks,
Sudipta

The size of the software is measured by the two factors lines of code and function points. The lines of code as the name implies reflects the number of lines of code. Function points is the size in terms of the amount of functionality in a system.