Chapter 17: Standardized Estimation Procedures

Overview

Applicability of Techniques in This Chapter
	Standardized Estimation Procedure	Assessing Effectiveness of an Estimation Procedure
What's estimated	Size, Effort, Schedule, Features	Size, Effort, Schedule, Features
Size of project	S M L	S M L
Development stage	Early-Late	Late
Iterative or sequential	Both	Both
Accuracy possible	High	High

A standardized estimation procedure is a well-defined process for creating estimates that is adopted at the organizational level and that provides guidance at the individual-project level. Standard procedures protect against poor estimation practices such as off-the-cuff estimation and guessing. They protect against changing estimates arbitrarily because a powerful stakeholder doesn't like a specific result. They encourage consistency of the estimation process. And, in the event of an especially poor estimate, they allow you to retrace your steps so that you can improve the procedure over time.

Standardized procedures are equally useful for large projects, small projects, iterative projects, and sequential projects, but the specifics will vary across these types of projects.