Software Intensive Systems Cost and Schedule Estimation
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Authors
Boehm, Barry
Lane, Jo Ann
Clark, Bradford
Tan, Thomas
Moazeni, Ramin
Madachy, Ray
Rosa, Wilson
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2013-06-13
Date
Publisher
Language
Abstract
This is the 2nd of two reports that were created for research on this topic funded through SERC.
SERC-TR-2013-032-2 (current report), included the "Software Cost Estimation Metrics Manual." This
constitutes the 2012-2013 Final Technical Report of the SERC Research Task Order 0024, RT-6: Software
Intensive Systems Cost and Schedule Estimation. Estimating the cost to develop a software application is
different from almost any other manufacturing process. In other manufacturing disciplines, the product is
developed once and replicated many times using physical processes. Replication improves physical process
productivity (duplicate machines produce more items faster), reduces learning curve effects on people and
spreads unit cost over many items. Whereas a software application is a single production item, i.e. every
application is unique. The only physical processes are the documentation of ideas, their translation into
computer instructions and their validation and verification. Production productivity reduces, not increases,
when more people are employed to develop the software application. Savings through replication are only
realized in the development processes and on the learning curve effects on the management and technical
staff. Unit cost is not reduced by creating the software application over and over again.
Type
Technical Report
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Systems Engineering (SE)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
H98230-08-D-0171
Format
144 p.
Citation
Boehm, Barry, et al. Software Intensive Systems Cost and Schedule Estimation. No. SERC-TR-032-2. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, 2013.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.