This paper summarizes the progress various industries have made in software productivity during the first decade of the 21st century. It begins by summarizing the productivity gains that occurred from 2000 and 2010 using data from 1,000 completed projects, none of which is over ten years old. Next, it categorizes the project data that were used to make Read More
Topic: Software Cost
History is the Key to Estimation Success

It was late afternoon in April of 1999 when the phone in my office rang. The conversation went something like this: “This software estimate just landed on my desk and I need to finish it by close of business today to support a fixed price bid.” “What can you tell me about this project?” “We’re rewriting an existing mainframe billing system developed in Read More
Selling Your Software Estimate

In many instances the software industry continues to flounder when it comes to understanding how to properly plan and manage software development project. One need not look far to find evidence that software project planning and management is a complicated challenge. Software estimating is indeed a hard thing to do. But often the problem goes deeper than Read More
An Innovative Approach to Quantifying Uncertainty in Early Lifecycle Cost Estimation

The inaccuracy of cost estimates for developing major Department of Defense (DoD) systems is well documented, and cost overruns have been a common problem that continues to worsen. Because estimates are now prepared much earlier in the acquisition lifecycle, well before concrete technical information is available, they are subject to greater uncertainty than Read More
DACS Software & Systems Cost and Performance Analysis Toolkit

The goal of Data and Analysis Center for Software (DACS) Software & Systems Cost and Performance Analysis Toolkit (S2CPAT) is to capture and analyze software and software engineering data from completed software projects that can be used to improve a) the quality of software –intensive systems and b) the ability to predict the development of software Read More
Agile at Scale (AAS)
There are four parts to our discussion of Agile at scale. First, we set the context by providing an answer to the question, “Why is AAS challenging?” The ten AAS primary technical best practices follow. We then briefly address how an organization can prepare for and achieve effective results from these best practices. We conclude with a listing of selected Read More
Agile at Scale (AAS)
There are four parts to our discussion of Agile at scale. First, we set the context by providing an answer to the question, “Why is AAS challenging?” The ten AAS primary technical best practices follow. We then briefly address how an organization can prepare for and achieve effective results from these best practices. We conclude with a listing of selected Read More