A Preliminary Calibration of the RCA Price S Software Cost Estimation Model.
Abstract
Each year, the Department of Defense spends more than three billion dollars on computer software, yet software managers are notoriously unable to predict the cost of software development projects. This is especially true of preliminary cost estimates made during the formative stages of a project. Even when parametric relationships are used, such estimates depend heavily on anology with previously developed systems. The purpose of this research is to investigate ways of gathering and using descriptive data for the purpose of making preliminary software cost estimates. A methodology for the collection of descriptive information on software systems was developed and used to describe several avionics software systems. The data thus gathered was then used to 'calibrate' the PRICE S software cost estimation model by relating particular values of several 'subjective' PRICE S input parameters to the observed software system data. It was found that certain characteristics of software systems could be objectively measured, and that the PRICE S model is not incompatible with avionics software systems developed for the Aeronautical Systems Division of Air Force Systems Command. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA046808
Entities
People
- John Schneider Iv
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology