Prototype project management tool (PPMT) with cocomo calibration. (c1998)

Abstract

Accurate project effort prediction is an important goal for the software engineering community. To date most work has focused upon building algorithmic models of effort. The Prototype Project Management Tool with COCOMO calibration system (PPMT) implements a set of project management tools and CO COMO estimation ability that based on Boehm's CO COMO model, estimate project efforts in terms of staff and time. The underlying principle is to characterize projects in terms of features (for example, development method, staff capabilities, the size of the project in terms of thousand lines of code). Activity bar chart, network activity chart and staff allocation can be generated for the specified project. Typically the PPMT project allows its COCOMO sub-system to be calibrated to local environments. Thus the same project can have some estimate the first time it is evaluated and then a more accurate estimate the second time it is evaluated. The process is automated using an X-based tool that can be used by project managers to complement current estimation techniques.