Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art (Best Practices (Microsoft))

ISBN: 0735605351
EAN: 2147483647

Year: 2004
Pages: 212

Authors: Steve McConnell

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Table of Contents
Back Cover
Software EstimationDemystifying the Black Art
Welcome
Why This Book Was Written and Who It Is For
Key Benefits Of This Book
What This Book Is Not About
Where to Start
Part I: Critical Estimation Concepts
Chapter 1: What Is an
1.1 Estimates, Targets, and Commitments
1.2 Relationship Between Estimates and Plans
1.3 Communicating about Estimates, Targets, and Commitments
1.4 Estimates as Probability Statements
1.5 Common Definitions of a
1.6 Estimates and Project Control
1.7 Estimation s Real Purpose
1.8 A Working Definition of a
Additional Resources
Chapter 2: How Good an Estimator Are You?
2.1 A Simple Estimation Quiz
2.2 Discussion of Quiz Results
Chapter 3: Value of Accurate Estimates
3.1 Is It Better to Overestimate or Underestimate?
3.2 Details on the Software Industry s Estimation Track Record
3.3 Benefits of Accurate Estimates
3.4 Value of Predictability Compared with Other Desirable Project Attributes
3.5 Problems with Common Estimation Techniques
Chapter 4: Where Does Estimation Error Come From?
4.1 Sources of Estimation Uncertainty
4.2 The Cone of Uncertainty
The Cone Doesn t Narrow Itself
4.3 Chaotic Development Processes
4.4 Unstable Requirements
4.5 Omitted Activities
4.6 Unfounded Optimism
4.7 Subjectivity and Bias
4.8 Off-The-Cuff Estimates
4.9 Unwarranted Precision
4.10 Other Sources of Error
Additional Resources
Chapter 5: Estimate Influences
5.1 Project Size
5.2 Kind of Software Being Developed
5.3 Personnel Factors
5.4 Programming Language
5.5 Other Project Influences
5.6 Diseconomies of Scale Revisited
Additional Resources
Part II: Fundamental Estimation Techniques
Chapter 6: Introduction to Estimation Techniques
6.1 Considerations in Choosing Estimation Techniques
6.2 Technique Applicability Tables
Chapter 7: Count, Compute, Judge
7.1 Count First
7.2 What to Count
7.3 Use Computation to Convert Counts to Estimates
7.4 Use Judgment Only as a Last Resort
Additional Resources
Chapter 8: Calibration and Historical Data
8.1 Improved Accuracy and Other Benefits of Historical Data
8.2 Data to Collect
8.3 How to Calibrate
8.4 Using Project Data to Refine Your Estimates
8.5 Calibration with Industry Average Data
8.6 Summary
Additional Resources
Chapter 9: Individual Expert Judgment
9.1 Structured Expert Judgment
9.2 Compare Estimates to Actuals
Additional Resources
Chapter 10: Decomposition and Recomposition
10.1 Calculating an Accurate Overall Expected Case
10.2 Decomposition via an Activity-Based Work Breakdown Structure
10.3 Hazards of Adding Up Best Case and Worst Case Estimates
10.4 Creating Meaningful Overall Best Case and Worst Case Estimates
Additional Resources
Chapter 11: Estimation by Analogy
11.1 Basic Approach to Estimating by Analogy
11.2 Comments on Uncertainty in the Triad Estimate
Chapter 12: Proxy-Based Estimates
12.1 Fuzzy Logic
12.2 Standard Components
12.3 Story Points
12.4 T-Shirt Sizing
12.5 Other Uses of Proxy-Based Techniques
12.6 Additional Resources
Chapter 13: Expert Judgment in Groups
13.1 Group Reviews
13.2 Wideband Delphi
Additional Resources
Chapter 14: Software Estimation Tools
14.1 Things You Can Do with Tools That You Can t Do Manually
14.2 Data You ll Need to Calibrate the Tools
14.3 One Thing You Shouldn t Do with a Tool Any More than You Should Do Otherwise
14.4 Summary of Available Tools
Additional Resources
Chapter 15: Use of Multiple Approaches
Additional Resources
Chapter 16: Flow of Software Estimates on a Well-Estimated Project
16.1 Flow of an Individual Estimate on a Poorly Estimated Project
16.2 Flow of an Individual Estimate on a Well-Estimated Project
16.3 Chronological Estimation Flow for an Entire Project
16.4 Estimate Refinement
16.5 How to Present Reestimation to Other Project Stakeholders
16.6 A View of a Well-Estimated Project
Chapter 17: Standardized Estimation Procedures
17.1 Usual Elements of a Standardized Procedure
17.2 Fitting Estimation into a Stage-Gate Process
17.3 An Example of a Standardized Estimation Procedure for Sequential Projects
17.4 An Example of a Standardized Estimation Procedure for Iterative Projects
17.5 An Example of a Standardized Estimation Procedure from an Advanced Organization
17.6 Improving Your Standardized Procedure
Additional Resources
Part III: Specific Estimation Challenges
Chapter 18: Special Issues in Estimating Size
18.1 Challenges with Estimating Size
18.2 Function-Point Estimation
18.3 Simplified Function-Point Techniques
18.4 Summary of Techniques for Estimating Size
Additional Resources
Chapter 19: Special Issues in Estimating Effort
19.1 Influences on Effort
19.2 Computing Effort from Size
19.3 Computing Effort Estimates by Using the Science of Estimation
19.4 Industry-Average Effort Graphs
19.5 ISBSG Method
19.6 Comparing Effort Estimates
Additional Resources
Chapter 20: Special Issues in Estimating Schedule
20.1 The Basic Schedule Equation
20.2 Computing Schedule by Using Informal Comparisons to Past Projects
20.3 Jones s First-Order Estimation Practice
20.4 Computing a Schedule Estimate by Using the Science of Estimation
20.5 Schedule Compression and the Shortest Possible Schedule
20.6 Tradeoffs Between Schedule and Effort
20.7 Schedule Estimation and Staffing Constraints
20.8 Comparison of Results from Different Methods
Additional Resources
Chapter 21: Estimating Planning Parameters
21.1 Estimating Activity Breakdown on a Project
21.2 Estimating Schedule for Different Activities
21.3 Converting Estimated Effort (Ideal Effort) to Planned Effort
21.4 Cost Estimates
21.5 Estimating Defect Production and Removal
21.6 Estimating Risk and Contingency Buffers
21.7 Other Rules of Thumb
21.8 Additional Resources
Chapter 22: Estimate Presentation Styles
22.1 Communicating Estimate Assumptions
22.2 Expressing Uncertainty
22.3 Using Ranges (of Any Kind)
Additional Resources
Chapter 23: Politics, Negotiation, and Problem Solving
23.1 Attributes of Executives
23.2 Political Influences on Estimates
23.3 Problem Solving and Principled Negotiation
Additional Resources
Appendix A: Estimate Sanity Check
Appendix B: Answers to Chapter 2 Quiz,
Appendix C: Software Estimation Tips
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Bibliography
Index
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Sidebars