2.1 Historical Data Used For Estimates

2.2 Estimation Techniques Applied And Results

2.2.1 Process-Based Estimation

2.2.2 LOC-Based Estimation ( COCOMO Model )

2.3 Reconciled Estimate

2.4 Project Resources

2.4.1 People

2.4.2 Minimal Hardware Requirements

2.4.3 Minimal Software Requirements

2.0 Project Estimate  

For this part of the document, estimations for cost, effort and duration will be calculated using 2 different estimation techniques, which will be elaborated in the appropriate section.

2.1 Historical Data Used For Estimates

From the historical data for past projects, we obtained the following cost information which shall be use in this project's cost estimation.

Average productivity for systems of this type: 600 LOC / person-month
Labour rate : RM 4,500 / month

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2.2 Estimation Techniques Applied And Results

Two estimation techniques have been used to generate two independent results for comparison purposes which will provide a more accurate result.

>> Process - based
>> Lines of Code ( LOC ) - COCOMO Model

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2.2.1 Process-Based Estimation

For process-based estimation, the process is decomposed into a relatively small set of activities or tasks. Then, the effort required to accomplish each task is estimated. Based on the project scope, the following software functions are defined:

Estimates of effort ( in person – month ) for each activity based on past projects are as below :

Process – Based Estimation Table :

Cust. Comm. = Customer Communication
Cust. Eval. = Customer Evaluation

>> Based on the historical data we obtained, the estimated effort is approximately 18.71 person – months.
>> The estimated project cost is RM 4,500 x 18.71 ≈ RM 85,000

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2.2.2 LOC – Based Estimation ( COCOMO Model )

The following estimates are based on the derivation of using three - point estimation techniques.

E = (o + 4r + p) / 6

E = estimate
o = optimistic estimate
r = realistic estimate
p = pessimistic estimate

The estimates for LOC are plugged into the COCOMO formula for effort and duration estimation. The basic COCOMO Model is used, for which
>> Effort, E = a KLOC ^b
>> Duration, D = c E ^d

The project is classified as an organic ( simple ) project, using default values
a = 2.4, b = 1.05, c = 2.5 and d = 0.38.
E = 2.4 ( KLOC ) 1.05
= 2.4 ( 6.5 ) 1.05
≈ 17 person – months

D = 2.5 E 0.38
= 2.5 ( 17 ) 0.38
≈ 7.3 months

N = E / D
= 17 / 7.3
≈ 2

>> The results that we get from the calculations above indicate that for 2 staff members, it will take 7.3 months to finish the project. Since we have 4 team members, the project duration should be shorter. The best – effort estimation for the project duration because of the additional members is about 4 months.

>> Based on that calculation, the estimated project cost will be
RM 4,500 x 4 x 4 ≈ RM 72,000

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2.3 Reconciled Estimate

The following estimates are the final cost, effort and duration for this project at this point of time.

Estimation for Effort:
>> Total estimates for this project range from low of 17 person - month (derived using a LOC based estimation approved ) to a high level of 18.71 person - month ( derived using the process based estimation approach )
>> The average estimate (using 2 approaches) is 17.86 person – month.

Estimation for Duration:
>> From using a process – based estimation approach, the estimate for is 4.7 months and from using a LOC – based estimation approach, the estimates is 4 months.
>> The average estimate (using 2 approaches) is 4.35 month.

Estimation for Project Cost:
>> The estimate that we get from the process – based approach is RM 85,000 and from the LOC – based approach, the estimate that is calculated is RM 72,000
>> The average estimate ( using 2 approaches ) is RM 78,500

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2.4 Project Resources

Project resources needed to develop this system are discussed in this section.

2.4.1 People

This project will require 4 experienced programmers in order to be completed within the allocated time. Each of the members should have vast experiences on past projects and all the team members will have to work in an interrelated network environment ( ego – less ) where informal meetings should be held regularly in order to create a more conductive environment and also to have a more efficient communication between the team members. Besides that, due to the shortage of team members, each team member will have to perform multiple tasks.

Required Staff:
>> Lead ASP programmer
>> Assistant ASP programmers
>> Documentation / Librarian
>> Manual Designer
>> Graphical Designer
>> Web Designer
>> Beta Testers

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2.4.2 Minimal Hardware Requirements

This project’s hardware environment will be Intel – based Pentium with Windows 2000 Server.

>> 4 IBM PC with the following configurations
• P III 600 MHz
• 256 MB SRAM
• 20 GB HD
• Internet Connection
• CD – ROM Writer

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2.4.3 Minimal Software Requirements

The minimal software needed to develop this system is as below:

>> Software
• Windows 2000 Server ( 4 licences )
• SQL Server 2000 Standard ( 10 CALs )
• Internet Information Server 5.0 ( IIS )
• Visual Interdev 6.0 ( 4 user licences )
• Microsoft Office 2000 ( 4 licences )