Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art

Chapter 1: What Is an "Estimate"? It is very difficult to make a vigorous, plausible, and job-risking defense of an estimate that is derived by no quantitative method, supported by little data, and certified chiefly by...

Chapter 2: How Good an Estimator Are You? The process is called estimation, not exactimation.mdash;Phillip Armour Overview Now that you know what a good estimate is, how good an estimator are you? The following sect...

Chapter 3: Value of Accurate Estimates [The common definition of estimate is] "the most optimistic prediction that has a non-zero probability of coming true." hellip; Accepting this definition leads irrevocably toward a...

Chapter 4: Where Does Estimation Error Come From? There's no point in being exact about something if you don't even know what you're talking about.mdash;John von Neumann Overview A University of Washington Computer...

Chapter 5: Estimate Influences How much is 68 + 73? ENGINEER: "It's 141." Short and sweet. MATHEMATICIAN: "68 + 73 = 73 + 68 by the commutative law of addition." True, but not very helpful. ACCOUNTANT: "Normally i...

Chapter 6: to Estimation Techniques Overview Chapters 1 through 5 described the critical concepts that underlie all software estimates. This book now turns to a discussion of detailed estimation techniques that can be...

Chapter 7: Count, Compute, Judge Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Count Compute What's estimated Size, Features Size, Effort, Schedule, Features Size of project S M...

Chapter 8: Calibration and Historical Data Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Calibration with Industry-Average Data Calibration with Organizational Data Calibration with Project-Sp...

Chapter 9: Individual Expert Judgment Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Use of Structured Process Use of Estimation Checklist Estimating Task Effort in Ranges Comparing Task Est...

Chapter 10: Decomposition and Recomposition Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Decomposition by Feature or Task Decomposition by Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Computing Best and Wo...

Chapter 11: Estimation by Analogy Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Estimation by Analogy What's estimated Size, Effort, Schedule, Features Size of project S M L De...

Chapter 12: Proxy-Based Estimates Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Fuzzy Logic Standard Components Story Points T-Shirt Sizing What's estimated Size, Features Size,...

Chapter 13: Expert Judgment in Groups Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Group Reviews Wideband Delphi What's estimated Size, Effort, Schedule, Features Size, Effort, Schedu...

Chapter 14: Software Estimation Tools Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Use of Software Estimation Tools What's estimated Size, Effort, Schedule, Features Size of project...

Chapter 15: Use of Multiple Approaches Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Use of Multiple Estimation Approaches What's estimated Size, Effort, Schedule, Features Size of pr...

Chapter 16: Flow of Software Estimates on a Well-Estimated Project Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Changing to More Accurate Estimation Techniques Later in the Project Estimate Refi...

Chapter 17: Standardized Estimation Procedures Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Standardized Estimation Procedure Assessing Effectiveness of an Estimation Procedure What's est...

Chapter 18: Special Issues in Estimating Size Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Function Points Dutch Method GUI Elements What's estimated Size, Features Size, Features S...

Chapter 19: Special Issues in Estimating Effort Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Informal Comparison to Past Projects Estimation Software Tools Industry-Average Effort Graphs I...

Chapter 20: Special Issues in Estimating Schedule Overview Open table as spreadsheet Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter The Basic Schedule Equation Informal Comparison to Past Projects Jone...

Chapter 21: Estimating Planning Parameters Overview The line between project estimation and project planning is wide and blurry. Numerous planning parameters need to be estimated, including how much effort to allocate t...

Chapter 22: Estimate Presentation Styles Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Matching Presentation Style to Estimate Accuracy What's estimated Size, Effort, Schedule, Features...

Chapter 23: Politics, Negotiation, and Problem Solving Overview Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter Principled Negotiation What's Estimated Size, Effort, Features, Schedule Size of Proj...