Author(s)

R. Jack & M. Mannion

Abstract

Effort estimation continues to be a weak link in software project management. As part of a research project into improving the cost estimation process, a review of current cost estimation techniques is described. A number of problems are identified with these techniques, in relation to the applicability of the techniques in different environments and in the omission of key project attributes. Improvement of the cost estimation process using locally-calibrated models with explicit product, process and resource issues is recommended. Introduction The problems of software development have been widely reported [1,2] and it is commonly accepted that the difficulties lie as much in project management as in technical development. Project management is a term embracing a number of

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