Adapting, correcting, and perfecting software estimates: a maintenance metaphor

Author

Abdel-Hamid, Tarek K.

Author_Institution

US Naval Postgraduate Sch., Monterey, CA, USA

Volume

26

Issue

3

fYear

1993

fDate

3/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

20

Lastpage

29

Abstract

A hybrid continuous software estimation model supporting adaptive, corrective, and perfective estimation activities is described. The adaptive activity accommodates new system or user requirements or reflects new organizational realities. Corrective maintenance remedies an error detected in the software product, and perfective maintenance eliminates processing inefficiencies and enhances performance of the overall software system. An implementation using constructive cost model (Cocomo) and the system dynamics (SD) simulator is presented. Three examples are presented that demonstrate how the model can be used: before the project starts to adapt the Cocomo estimates to organizational realities, during software development to correct initial assumptions about sizing, and after project completion to perfect model estimates.<>

Keywords

software cost estimation; software maintenance; Cocomo; adaptive activity; constructive cost model; hybrid continuous software estimation model; model estimates; new organizational realities; overall software system; perfective estimation activities; perfective maintenance; processing inefficiencies; project completion; sizing; software development; software product; system dynamics; user requirements; Costs; Feedback; Large-scale systems; Monitoring; Programming; Project management; Scheduling; Software maintenance; Software systems; Uncertainty;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computer

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9162

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2.204681

Filename

204681