Government*Horizons Inc. Training Series™

Software Cost Estimating Overview Workshop

August 5, 2008
Arlington, VA

This workshop is recommended for 8 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) toward DAWIA, FAC-C, FAC-P/PM requirements. A Government*Horizons Certificate of Completion will be provided to all attendees upon conclusion of the workshop.

Registration: 8:30 AM
Program Starts: 9:00 AM
Wrap-Up: 4:00 PM

Course materials, coffee and refreshments included.

About This Course:

This one-day workshop is ideal for those new to estimating software-intensive systems since you will be introduced to the basic principles, concepts, and terminology of software cost estimating. You will learn about what drives the cost of software programs and gain an understanding of the various methodologies available to estimate software development costs. The workshop will provide an overview of the estimating process/steps, software sizing, and software support estimation.

What You Will Learn:

• How to estimate the costs and schedules of software development projects in order to avoid large overruns
• Practical techniques and tools to estimate, plan, and complete high quality projects that are on budget and schedule
• And more!

Who Should Attend:

• Software Program/Project Managers
• Cost Analysts
• Software Engineers
• Software Developers

Course Outline:

Software Development Estimation Overview

• What is Software Cost Estimating?
• Importance of Software Estimation
• Description of Problem
• Software’s Chronic Crisis (The Chaos Report)
• Software Failures – Case Studies
• Software Successes – Case Studies
• Cost Estimating vs. Cost Analysis
• Types of Cost Estimates
• Challenges Facing Estimators
• Software Cost Drivers
• Criteria for Good Estimates

Software Estimating Methods

• Methodology Overview – Two General Approaches
• Top-Down
• Bottoms-Up
• Software Estimating Techniques
• Analogy
• Expert Judgment/Delphi Technique
• Algorithmic (Parametric) Models
• In-house models
• Commercial models
• Bottoms-Up/Detailed
• Other Approaches
• Engineering Ratios & Factors
• Productivity Measures

Software Development Estimation

• Estimating Steps
• Define and Plan the Estimate
• Conduct Data Research, Collection and Analysis
• Formulate the Estimate
• Review the Estimate
• Present the Estimate
• Document the Estimate

Software Estimating Topics

• Project Breakdown
  • Project Elements – Functions, Activities and Tasks
  • Software Structure
  • Software Development Phases
  • What is a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?
  • WBS Types
• Software Size Measurement and Estimation
  • Why is Software Size Estimation Important?
  • Software Size Estimation – Overview
  • Software Sizing Techniques
  • Measuring Software Size
  • Line of Code Estimating
    • What to Count?
    • Types of Statements
  • Code Sources
  • Using Size to Estimate Effort
  • Effective SLOC
• Addressing Software Code Growth
• Time Phasing the Estimate
  • What is Time Phasing?
  • Importance of Time Phasing
  • Time Phasing Techniques
• Software Productivity
  • Metrics
  • Productivity Studies
• Software Support Estimation
  • Overview
  • Magnitude of Software Support
  • Software Support Categories
  • Software Support Estimating Methodologies
  • Estimating Maintenance and Growth Costs

About Your Instructor:

John A. Long is currently Technical Director and Executive Consultant with PRICE Systems. He has more than twenty-nine years experience in cost analysis, life cycle cost analysis, risk analysis, and model development. He has a BA in Math from Miami University, a MA in Industrial Management from Central Michigan University, a MS in Operations Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Operations Research from The Ohio State University. Dr. Long is a certified cost estimator/analyst.

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