Estimate Effort for Events (Process Notes 7.3.2)

If you have described all of the required inputs to the necessary level of detail, then for each event estimate the effort using Albrecht function points.

Think of the events/use cases as mini-systems that combine a number of related requirements. Throughout the project, you can use the events as a project management and communication tool.

System experience from other projects run under similar conditions provides input regarding how long it took to develop a similar event under similar conditions. This input, if you have it, helps you to weight the estimates more accurately. Look for the following types of system experience:

• Developer experience

• Management experience

• Stakeholder experience

• Experience with the intended technology

If you have built any prototypes, then you can use the prototyping metrics as input when estimating the effort necessary for similar events within the system.

Event effort estimates = {event name + estimated function points}

+ total estimated function points for all events

+ estimate of what effort a function point means in this environment

According to Capers Jones, the U.S. industry average is $1,000 per implemented function point.