Improve Expert Estimation Process: Practice Assessment And Proposals For A Consultant Company.
Master thesis
Permanent lenke
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/251226Utgivelsesdato
2007Metadata
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Sammendrag
This thesis presents results of the estimation effort improvement study for a major consultant company in Norway. The company have already established an effort estimation process, but want additional help in improving the estimation process and tools. Two major problems are identified; some estimates have very low accuracy, and they use multiple estimation tools and methodologies. Part of the main research on the state of practice was to determine the effort estimation models used and effort estimation accuracy. To better understand how the effort estimation process worked we compared the effort estimation practice against best practices and looked further into the relation between estimation models and expert judgement. The last part of the state of practice research was to check project reports to see if they used a common tool and had a risk checklist. The main part of the work has consisted of researching the state of practice at the consultant company and comparing it against known best practices and proposing improvements. Based on literature available this thesis presents practical improvements for the estimation process. The state of practice was determined by conducting interviews and going through project reports. The state of practice showed that they lacked a too for early effort estimation, so we conducted a case study for early estimation using use case point. This thesis proposes solutions to issues on tools and practices. The main contribution is a powerful effort estimation template.