From ConOps to ROM Estimate in 6 Easy Steps
by Carol Dekkers, Quality Plus Technologies Inc. and Dan French, COBEC – USA
Estimating the cost and schedule of custom software development from preliminary requirements or a Concept of Operations (ConOps) document can be challenging to even the most seasoned cost estimator.
It is well-established that software size and productivity are major drivers of software development costs, however, both can be elusive when creating early estimates. When considering software size, both Source Lines of Code (SLOC) and Functional Size (Function Points) are not easy to estimate given that solid details for each are unavailable until after software delivery.
Additionally, barriers to entry exist including mastering the IFPUG Function Point Analysis rules and then adapting them to apply to vague high-level requirements.
This presentation overcomes these barriers to entry and outlines a streamlined six-step process to develop a data-founded and defensible cost and schedule ROM estimate from high-level requirements/ConOps documents. A sample ConOps case study will be used to demonstrate the six-step process.
Watch a Youtube video of the presentation.
See PDF of presentation
About Carol Dekkers
Carol Dekkers is a management consultant and president of Quality Plus Technologies, specializing in working with organizations who want to keep their promises to their clients through realistic, data-founded estimates. In 2022, she was named the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA) 2022 Educator of the Year for her work as the lead author for the Software Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge (CEBoK-S). In 2023, Ms. Dekkers was elected to the ICEAA board of directors.
She holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and is an IFPUG Certified Function Point Specialist (Fellow), a PMP, Certified Scrum Master and a P.Eng. (Canada). Ms. Dekkers has authored several textbooks on functional size measurement (function Points) and project management and is a frequent presenter and instructor on these topics internationally. She currently consults under contract to several U.S. federal government agencies and to the private sector. In Feb 2023, Ms. Dekkers was named one of Consulting Magazine’s 2023 Global Leaders in Consulting for her leadership in pro bono for her contributions to the IFPUG, ASQ, PMI, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
About Dan French
Daniel (Dan) B. French has twenty years of experience in a variety of IT roles including analyst, developer, tester, project management, software metrics and software estimation. He has developed CMMi and ISO compliant process improvement and software estimation processes.
Dan holds a B.S. in Economics from Virginia Tech and holds certification as a Lifetime CFPS, PMP and CSM. He recently served as the Certification Director on the IPFUG Board of Directors and is currently the chair. Previously he served as the Chair of the Functional Software Sizing Committee (FSSC). He’s authored numerous white papers/presentations on software metrics, Agile, and estimation.
