How to Estimate Early in a Project

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“How long will it take you?” is one of the scariest questions that business analysts have to answer. This question is always posed before you know what you are going to have to do to define the requirements. You have not yet done the analysis upon which to base your answer. Given that uncertainty, it is no wonder that whatever answer you come up with will be wrong, leading to a missed delivery date and unhappy customers.

This workshop introduces methods that improve early estimates and the communication of the factors that affect them. We cover foundation approaches for state-of-the-practice in early project estimating based on application, story, object, function point, and other relevant techniques. You will discuss factors that affect estimating accuracy, and apply them in a case study. Included in the class materials is an individual license for our estimating tool, Quest For Better Estimates^®.

Note: This instructor-led course can be delivered in two virtual sessions via the Internet or live at your site.

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1. Early Estimating Techniques

Early Project Estimating

1. Early Estimating Techniques

Objectives

Why Estimate?

Exercise: The Early Estimating Challenge

The Early Estimating Challenge

Some Estimating Techniques

When Do You Estimate?

Your Project to Estimate

2. 10 Simple Estimating Ideas

Estimating based on Statistics

What Is An Estimate?

What Is An Estimate?

Good Estimates Are Always Based On Experience

To Improve Estimates, Ask Questions

A Few Words on Statistics

Estimates are Statistics

Exercise: Use Three-Point Estimating

Exercise: Subdividing Projects

Increasing Detail Decreases Error

The 20 Questions of Estimating

Exercise: Case Study from Chapter 1: Team

Asking the Right Question: One Step toward Solution

Exercise: Case Study 2: Individual

The SWAG Estimate

Exercise: Case Study 3: SWAG

Exercise: Case Study 4, Consensus (Team) Estimating

Quest for Better Estimates

Exercise: Case Study 5: Consensus & Quest

Recap: Estimation Improvement Techniques

What Are You Estimating?

Exercise: Ask What Questions?

3. Estimating Based On Experience

Expert Guesswork

The Expert Estimator

Units of Estimating

Comparison Estimating 1

Comparison Estimating 1

Exercise: Comparison Estimating 2

Requirements Impact Estimates

COCOMO II Cost Factors

Quest/SWAG and COCOMO Cost

Exercise: Case Study 6: COCOMO

The Finer Points of Estimating

Using “Points” for Estimating

Points as Sizing Parameters

User Requirement Sizing, the Initial Process

User Requirement Sizing, the Estimating Process

Reality Check

Iterations, Increments & Releases

Backing into Duration

Making Points

Function Point Estimating

Successful-Project Profiles 5

Summary: Experience-Based Estimating

4. Improving Your Estimating Practices

Implementing Lessons Learned

Summary

Implement Better Estimating

Management Issues

In-House Estimating Experts

Keeping History Databases

Providing Software Support

Avoiding Management Malpractice

Summary: Final Assignment

Epilog

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• List 6 estimating approaches and present the pros and cons of each
• Discuss Function Point estimating and it applicability to early project estimating
• Apply Application, Object and Story point estimating methods and; discuss their strengths, weaknesses and prerequisites

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We do not currently have a public offering of this class scheduled. To add your name to the waiting list or request alternate offers, please contact us.
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