Estimating and Pricing Systems  The most widely available concise coverage of software project estimation can be found in Pressman's Software Engineering text (2005, Chapter 23). The core of the technique involves the estimation of an application's software development cost using the type chart shown in Figure 2. Additional steps in the process consider the complexity of the system development and user environments. The process is straightforward and suitable for inclusion in an MIS textbook.  

             

Estimation Worksheet: Analyzing the Information Domain

complexity multiplier

function points

number of user inputs number of user outputs number of user inquiries number of files number of ext.interfaces

measurement parameter

3 4 3 7 5

countweighting factor

simple avg. complex

4 5 4 10 7

6 7 6 15 10

= = = = =

count-total

X X X X X