Software Project Estimation using Function Points  & COCOMO

Introduction
Project Estimation skills are increasingly being recognized as a company’s key competitive advantages. Whether that software is marketed commercially or used in support of internal business operations, effective management of software requires effective measurements. The Function Point metric has become the software measure of choice.

Function Point analysis was created in the mid 70s as a technique for evaluating software size and system complexity. Today the Function Point metric is used by tens of hundreds of companies globally.

FPA is used to accurately size systems in an effort to satisfy customer demands on time and within budget.

The impact of new techniques and methods such as Graphical User Interface (GUI), Client -Server, Object Oriented Analysis (OOA) and Web based applications are currently being measured using Function Point analysis.The objective of the course is to provide inputs on Function Points and COCOMO, which are perhaps the most popular methods of sizing and estimating software systems today.

Function point analysis developed by Allen Albrecht, when at IBM, is now universally accepted as an adequate and effective measure of functionally of a business, commercial, MIS software system and thus a vital first step that FPA is not geared for systems software, real-time applications or scientific systems.

COCOMO is an Estimation model developed by Dr.Barry Boehm and used to estimate effort and calendar time. The 1997 version of this model will be covered in the course

About This Course

The most effective approach to learning the FUNCTION POINT analysis technique & COCOMO  is through classroom instruction and hands-on practical experience. This seminar provides you with the opportunity to learn Function Point counting techniques and to apply them through exercises and case studies. The  International Function Point Users Group counting guidelines recommended by today’s industry leaders are presented.

What You Will Learn

This course will teach you the fundamentals of counting and applying function points.
Upon completion you will be able to:

·         Apply the Function Point counting techniques in your environment

·         Understand the principles behind those counting techniques

·         Apply Function Points in an overall metrics program

·         Develop improved estimating techniques using Function Points

·         Improve communications with the users through functional metrics

Who Should Attend  

Sr.Managers, Consultants, IT Professionals,

Software Project Managers, Team leaders

Functional Consultants

Project estimating professionals

Managers responsible Metrics and measurements

Course Contents

Day 1

• Introduction to Software Estimation

• Cost Estimates : When and Why?

• Benefits of accurate estimates

• Factors that influence estimation accuracy

• Group Exercise I: Trade-off between Scope, Time, Cost and Quality

• Inputs for Software Estimation

• The process of estimation

• Expected outputs of software estimation
  Tea

• Group Exercise I: Estimating a software

• Group Exercise Review
  Lunch

• Software Estimation Techniques
     * Algorithmic Cost Modeling
     * Top-down and Bottom-up estimates
     * Estimation by Analogy
     * Wide Band Delphi Technique
     * COCOMO Basic, Intermediate, Detailed
     * COCOMO II and Agile COCOMO Models
  Tea

• Introduction to Function Points, Mk II FP and other variants of Function Point Analysis

Day 2:

• Revision

• Understanding Function Point Terminologies

• Identification and establishment of Application Boundary

• Introduction to elements used in Function Point Analysis

• Identifying the elements

• Counting Practices

• Practical tips
  Tea

• Unadjusted Function Points

• Determining TDI

• Calculating adjusted function points

• Calculating function points for new projects

• Calculating function points for maintenance projects
  Lunch

• Case Study: Estimating a software based on FPA. (IFPUG Counting Practices Manual 4.1)
  Tea

• Case Study Review

• Function Points Conversion to other techniques (COCOMO, LOC)

• Best practices in software project estimation

• Applying function points to various types of software projects

Course Duration:

       Two (2) days; 9.0 am to 6.0 pm with ½ hour lunch break.
Course Fee:

      Rs.  15,000 + 10.3 % Service tax to be paid by DD or Check drawn in favor of IIPM Chennai at least 5 days before the start of the course. 

Earn  15 PDUs

Course Materials :

• Excellent  course materials will be given to all participants.

• Writing stationery and note book with pen will be provided.

• Lunch and Tea / Snacks will be provided.

Date :
     To be scheduled

Venue :

      Star hotel or IIPM’s  air-conditioned , well furnished Training Hall , T.Nagar, Chennai

    Certificates and Professional Development Units (PDUs):

              All participants will be given a course completion certificate and PMPs  will  gain 15 PDUs for attending this course.