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A Methodology for Assessing Schedule Risk in Software Development Estimates

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Abstract

Planning estimates for software development schedules are often obtained using a schedule-estimating equation that expresses the schedule estimate (in calendar months) as a nonlinear function of the total development effort (in staff-months). For example, the COCOMO schedule model [1] for embedded-mode developments is Schedule = 2.5 (Effort)0.32 We address the problem of measuring the error of uncertainty in the schedule estimate when the error of the effort estimate and the error of the schedule model (given actual effort data) are known.

We illustrate the methodology for two models calibrated to historical cost data.

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References

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© 1991 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Stein, W.M. (1991). A Methodology for Assessing Schedule Risk in Software Development Estimates. In: Kankey, R., Robbins, J. (eds) Cost Analysis and Estimating. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3202-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3202-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7831-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3202-5

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