Why This Course? (2 or 3 days)
Software Cost Estimating is one of the Information Technology professional's weakest skills. This Learning experience introduces methods that improve estimates, and improve the communication of the factors that affect them. We cover the foundation approaches for today's state-of-the-art software cost estimating: Boehm's COnstructive COst MOdel (COCOMO II), to Putnam's contributions, and traditional activity-based estimating.

This course uses software support to apply the methods, add additional capabilities, and ease their use. Participants discuss the factors that affect estimating accuracy, and apply them in a case study. We can also tailor the class to focus on software your organization already uses. Included in the class materials is a time-limited demo license for our estimating tool, Quest For Better Estimates™.

Learning Objectives

1. Software Cost Estimating Introduction
	Discuss the most important questions to ask and answer before estimating a project
	Identify the natural estimating points in a project, and the most useful methods for each.
2. Experience-Based Estimating
	Apply SWAG and Consensus estimating methods, and describe their relative strengths.
	Describe two additional early project estimating methods, and identify the prerequisites to using them effectively.
	Use a personal styles model to help understand why some team members have so much difficulty with estimates; identify which methods work best with each personal style.
3. Parametric Estimating Methods
	Describe the audience, timing, and prerequisites for using Parametric Estimating methods.
	Use the COCOMO II parametric estimating method appropriately on a project.
	Identify the COCOMO II Cost Factors that impact a project the most.
4. Product Point Estimating
	Apply Application point estimating methods on a project; discuss their strengths, weaknesses and prerequisites.
	Apply and evaluate the use of Function Point estimating to provide a traceable estimate, and a basis for project metrics. (optional)
5. Statistical Estimating Methods
	Identify the purpose, methods, basis and relevant formulae of Statistical Estimating Methods.
	Use life cycle phases as a useful way to break down a project for Statistical estimating.
	Apply Statistical estimating for detailed activities of the Work Breakdown Structure. (optional)
	Discuss alternative ways to establish a project duration estimate, including one that identifies the ideal duration and staffing, given effort estimates.
6. Implement Better Estimating
	Summarize estimates from multiple sources, evaluate differences to determine if the estimates are ready to present.
	Discuss the management issues of improved estimating, and the actions to put into place to help resolve them.
	Summarize the key points of the session in a presentation for managers. (optional)
	(note: the bold, italic optional items are for the 3-day version)

Audience
Software Cost Estimating focuses on a range of easy-to-use through advanced methods of estimating the Scope, work effort and cost of Information Technology software projects. The intended audience includes experienced project and program managers, IT resource managers, IT decision-makers, Project Management Office or internal estimating consultants, and analysts and designers who prepare and review early project estimates for software systems.

The 3-day version includes the optional topics listed above (Function Point estimating, and Activity-level estimating), and allows more Case Exercise time for participants to apply the content to their own projects.

Course Outline (2 or 3 days)

1. Introduction

	How Do You Currently Estimate?
	The What, Why, Who and When of Estimating; Case Exercise
	The Twenty Most Important Questions to Ask Before Estimating
	When Do You Estimate? Different Methods Used At Different Times; Where’s the Cost?

2. Experience-Based Estimating Techniques

	Pre-Requirements Methods: SWAG, Expert Estimator; Case Exercise
	Introducing Quest for Better Estimates; Expert Estimator
	Risk Assessment as Estimating; Units of Estimating; Comparison Estimating
	Consensus Estimating, or the Group Delphi Approach; Case Exercise
	Improve Estimates by Corroborating Results with Delphi
	Requirements Impact on Estimates; Types of Requirements
	How Personal Style Affects Estimates; Your Personal Style; Implications

3. Parametric Estimating Techniques

	Background on Parametric Methods; Putnam’s Contributions; The COnstructive COst Model
	Different COCOMO Models for Different Timing; COCOMO Sizing Factors
	Lines of Code Scope Measures; COCOMO II Cost Factors
	COCOMO Scaling Factors; Process Maturity and CMM
	Quest SWAG: Hands-on Case Exercise

4. Product Point Estimating (*portions optional)

	Types of Product Point Estimating; Application Points; Rating AppPoint Difficulty
	Function Point Estimating; What Are Function Points*; Overview of Function Point Counting*
	Function Points and Measurement*; Usefulness in Project Management*
	When Can You Use Function Points?* Product Points and Commercial Software
	Other Types of Product Points; Learning Objectives as Product Points

5. Statistics-Based Estimating Techniques (*portions optional)

	Statistical Estimating Overview; Multiple Inputs = Better Estimates
	Life Cycle Phase Estimating;  Program-level Estimating
	Activity-Level Estimating*; Two-Point, Three-Point Estimating*; Effort to Duration Conversion*
	Deriving Project Duration Estimates; The Successful Project Profile Chart

6. Implementing Better Estimating

	Summarizing Estimates; Spotting Estimate Trends
	Quest Summary Page; Adding Other Estimates
	Management Issues of Improved Estimating; Establishing a History DataBase
	Using Productivity Metrics; Providing Software Support; Avoiding Management Malpractice
	A Final Assignment

Equipment Requirements
This Learning experience requires a computer for (at least) day 2 and 3 for each team of two-to-four participants. System Requirements: Pentium III 1Ghz, mouse, with Windows 98+ and Excel loaded.