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Questions and Answers
Why is effort and cost estimation crucial for software development projects?
Why is effort and cost estimation crucial for software development projects?
What factor contributes to the increasing pressure on software development?
What factor contributes to the increasing pressure on software development?
Which statement best describes the nature of modern software development?
Which statement best describes the nature of modern software development?
In which domain are software systems said to contribute 60-90% of advancements?
In which domain are software systems said to contribute 60-90% of advancements?
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What does the quote 'Failing to plan is planning to fail' imply for software development?
What does the quote 'Failing to plan is planning to fail' imply for software development?
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Which of the following is a challenge of predicting software development costs?
Which of the following is a challenge of predicting software development costs?
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What do Rayleigh and Parr's curves suggest about software quality assurance practices?
What do Rayleigh and Parr's curves suggest about software quality assurance practices?
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What is the relationship between effort, time, and staffing levels in project management?
What is the relationship between effort, time, and staffing levels in project management?
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What is a practical consequence of effort-time dependencies in software development?
What is a practical consequence of effort-time dependencies in software development?
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What does management stress in software development refer to?
What does management stress in software development refer to?
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What is implied about the effort-area under the staffing curve as time compresses?
What is implied about the effort-area under the staffing curve as time compresses?
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What is the main purpose of focusing project effort in its early phases?
What is the main purpose of focusing project effort in its early phases?
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Why is defect prevention emphasized over rework?
Why is defect prevention emphasized over rework?
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How much more expensive is it to fix a software problem after delivery compared to early phases?
How much more expensive is it to fix a software problem after delivery compared to early phases?
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What does the dashed curve in the staffing model represent?
What does the dashed curve in the staffing model represent?
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What does Parr’s curve represent in the staffing distribution?
What does Parr’s curve represent in the staffing distribution?
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Why might project staffing curves appear 'mathematically and practically bizarre'?
Why might project staffing curves appear 'mathematically and practically bizarre'?
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Which statement best describes the term 'effort models' as portrayed by the staffing curves?
Which statement best describes the term 'effort models' as portrayed by the staffing curves?
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What usually happens if little effort is invested during early development phases?
What usually happens if little effort is invested during early development phases?
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Which curve is associated with projects that spend the most effort on early phases?
Which curve is associated with projects that spend the most effort on early phases?
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What is the implication of trading off project staffing against project time and effort?
What is the implication of trading off project staffing against project time and effort?
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What is a significant factor impacting the difficulty of software production?
What is a significant factor impacting the difficulty of software production?
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What percentage of software work is considered intellectual according to Robert Glass?
What percentage of software work is considered intellectual according to Robert Glass?
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Which of the following is NOT considered a key success factor for software projects?
Which of the following is NOT considered a key success factor for software projects?
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What does the intangible and volatile nature of software products make difficult?
What does the intangible and volatile nature of software products make difficult?
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How should a software project be viewed according to the discussed principles?
How should a software project be viewed according to the discussed principles?
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What can be said about the project tasks in the software development transformation sequence?
What can be said about the project tasks in the software development transformation sequence?
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Which aspect of software development is highlighted as a blend of different domains?
Which aspect of software development is highlighted as a blend of different domains?
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Which of the following is considered a critical area for financial success in software projects?
Which of the following is considered a critical area for financial success in software projects?
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What role does customer involvement play in software development?
What role does customer involvement play in software development?
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What should be done if a predefined target is smaller than a reasonable estimate for a project?
What should be done if a predefined target is smaller than a reasonable estimate for a project?
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What may be necessary if adjusting project characteristics does not yield the expected effect?
What may be necessary if adjusting project characteristics does not yield the expected effect?
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What does a 'death march project' imply?
What does a 'death march project' imply?
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How should estimates and targets be managed when predefined targets exist?
How should estimates and targets be managed when predefined targets exist?
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What may need to be adjusted if project targets are too ambitious?
What may need to be adjusted if project targets are too ambitious?
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What is one primary objective of bidding in a project?
What is one primary objective of bidding in a project?
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What factor must be continually reassessed when project scope is adjusted?
What factor must be continually reassessed when project scope is adjusted?
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What does adjusting estimates not constitute?
What does adjusting estimates not constitute?
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What assumption was made by a business manager in a financial organization regarding developer targets?
What assumption was made by a business manager in a financial organization regarding developer targets?
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Which statement best describes the iterative process of estimation concerning targets?
Which statement best describes the iterative process of estimation concerning targets?
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Study Notes
Challenges of Predictable Software Development
- Software development projects often face unrealistic cost estimates, tight schedules, and missed deadlines or incompletion.
- Software effort estimation is crucial for successful project completion.
- Software is complex, akin to a new scientific theory, not an assembly line product.
- Software's complexity arises from its increasing use in various domains, leading to higher expectations for faster, more intelligent, dependable, and easier-to-maintain software.
- Software development technologies and paradigms change rapidly.
- Development tasks are often distributed across multiple companies, time zones, cultures, and continents.
- Software project management, including accurate estimation, is essential for success.
- Software projects have an abstract character making them difficult to estimate and manage.
Software Is Getting Complex
- Software creation involves developing new theories, not simply producing existing goods.
- Software reliance is increasing as more systems integrate software components.
Software Development Is Getting Complex
- Software development methods and technologies change rapidly, creating a challenge for estimating resources.
- Development processes now frequently involve distributed teams across multiple companies.
Project Management and Estimation Are Key Success Factors
- Poor project management leads to faster increases in costs than other factors.
- Poor effort estimation is one of the two most common causes of project failure.
- Accurate effort estimation is needed to support realistic project plans and negotiation.
- Effective project management is critical to the financial success of projects.
- Efficient use of resources and potential for innovation are important project considerations.
Criteria of Project Success
- Classical project success is defined as delivering functioning, quality software within the budget and schedule.
- Project success can include timely cancellation to prevent costly failure and learning from the experience.
- Poor project management amplifies the risk of software cost overruns.
What is a "Good Estimate"?
- A good estimate provides a clear understanding of project reality to support good decision-making.
Further Reading
- Various articles, books, and proceedings discuss software engineering best practises and challenges.
- Key themes frequently discussed include failure, successful projects, and the role of people.
Basic Concepts of Effort Estimation
- Estimation is a predictive process, a guess, not an exact figure, to be above or below the actual.
- Using estimates as internal project targets creates unrealistic deadlines.
- Estimating based on a person hour is outdated and unreliable.
- Software effort estimations should include a contingency reserve for risks.
- Accurate estimation focuses on project resource needs.
Effort Estimation Stakeholders
- Estimation process owners, estimators, and domain experts are involved.
- Decision-makers, who are stakeholders, are important for resource allocation.
Effort Estimation in Context
- Multiple project objectives should be balanced to determine a successful outcome: required scope, effort, and resources.
- Projects involve compromises between scope, effort, and resources.
- Trade-offs between three aspects of software project resources need to be decided.
- The project context is complex and includes factors such as team capabilities, tool support, and quality requirements.
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Description
Explore the complexities of software development projects including the difficulties in cost estimation and project management. Understand how increasing expectations and rapid technological changes impact the success of software projects.
