Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art

Description

Often referred to as the "black art” because of its complexity and uncertainty, software estimation is not as difficult or puzzling as people think. In fact, generating accurate estimates is straightforward - once you understand the art of creating them. In his highly anticipated book, acclaimed author Steve McConnell unravels the mystery to successful software estimation - distilling academic information and real-world experience into a practical guide for working software professionals. Instead of arcane treatises and rigid modeling techniques, this guide highlights a proven set of procedures, understandable formulas, and heuristics that individuals and development teams can apply to their projects to help achieve estimation proficiency.

Discover how to:

* Estimate schedule and cost - or estimate the functionality that can be delivered within a given time frame
* Avoid common software estimation mistakes
* Learn estimation techniques for you, your team, and your organization * Estimate specific project activities - including development, management, and defect correction
* Apply estimation approaches to any type of project - small or large, agile or traditional
* Navigate the shark-infested political waters that surround project estimates

When many corporate software projects are failing, McConnell shows you what works for successful software estimation.

CONTENTS:

WelcomeAcknowledgmentsEquationsFiguresPart I: Critical Estimation Concepts
* Chapter 1: What Is an "Estimate"?
* Chapter 2: How Good an Estimator Are You?
* Chapter 3: Value of Accurate Estimates
* Chapter 4: Where Does Estimation Error Come From?
* Chapter 5: Estimate InfluencesPart II: Fundamental Estimation Techniques
* Chapter 6: Introduction to Estimation Techniques
* Chapter 7: Count, Compute, Judge
* Chapter 8: Calibration and Historical Data
* Chapter 9: Individual Expert Judgment
* Chapter 10: Decomposition and Recomposition
* Chapter 11: Estimation by Analogy
* Chapter 12: Proxy-Based Estimates
* Chapter 13: Expert Judgment in Groups
* Chapter 14: Software Estimation Tools
* Chapter 15: Use of Multiple Approaches
* Chapter 16: Flow of Software Estimates on a Well-Estimated Project
* Chapter 17: Standardized Estimation ProceduresPart III: Specific Estimation Challenges
* Chapter 18: Special Issues in Estimating Size
* Chapter 19: Special Issues in Estimating Effort
* Chapter 20: Special Issues in Estimating Schedule
* Chapter 21: Estimating Planning Parameters
* Chapter 22: Estimate Presentation Styles
* Chapter 23: Politics, Negotiation, and Problem SolvingAppendix A: Estimate Sanity CheckAppendix B: Answers to Quiz, ""Appendix C: Software Estimation TipsBibliographyAppendix : Steve McConnell