MONSET-a prototype software development estimating tool

The development of large-scale computer software has traditionally been a difficult cost estimation problem. Software has been developed for more than thirty years and it is reasonable to expect that the experience gained in this time, would make software development effort predictions more reliable. One way by which an organisation can benefit from past projects is to measure, track and control each project and use the collected results to assist future project estimation. This paper describes a hybrid model for software effort prediction and its validation against available data on some large software projects. A prototype software development estimation system (MONSET-Monash Software Estimating Tool) based on the proposed model is described. The system aims to provide guidance for project managers during the software development process