1.0 Introduction
If you are a seasoned data processing professional, you must have come across the term
FPA œ Function Point Analysis. If you have done any coding / analysis and design /
product management / project management, chances are you must have heard terms like
agile development / extreme programming / spiral modeling vis-à-vis the classical
waterfall methodology. If what I am talking about here creates a buzz in your mind,
won‘t you like to know why in spite of embracing agile methods some software firms
always fail to bring products to market on time, or why they can never estimate the
proper costs for a software build / release cycle, to start with? And if you never heard of
FPA or agile methods --- well --- it is never too late to learn something new, useful,
immensely practical, and immediately executable.
This e-handbook introduces you to key estimation metrics like FPA œ Function Point
Analysis and COSMIC. It also highlights the importance of sound software engineering
management as a factor in improving software productivity. The handbook challenges the
notion that software estimation is part arts and part guesstimates, and comes up with a
framework which takes into account not only traditional metrics like FPA, but also
modern techniques like iterative development / spiral model, rapid prototyping, agile
methods, and extreme programming; and allows for the management savvy of the
organization as a significant factor in estimating / budgeting software build / release
cycles.
In this handbook, I provide a framework on how to estimate completely and
comprehensively the time (manpower / man-hours) and money (cost / dollars) required to
complete a successful product build / release for a software product / services start-up.
What is attractive about the framework is that it is not limited to product companies, but
can be applied in your IT department. You will also find this framework and attention to
detail useful, if your quest is to outbid an Accenture or a IBM Global services for a
consulting engagement. This is based on my years of experience as a software developer,
project manager, and product manager. This handbook, hot from Silicon Valley, is
intended to make you a better manager of software engineers, and also a genius in
estimating software build / release cycles, no matter how big the project is.
