Software Cost Estimation with Cocomo II (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Chris Abts (Author), A. Winsor Brown (Author), Sunita Chulani (Author), Bradford K. Clark (Author), Ellis Horowitz (Author), Ray Madachy (Author), Donald J. Reifer (Author), Bert Steece (Author)
Key Phrases: emerging extensions, process maturity, programmer capability, Early Design, Very Low, Extra High (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the most significant software technology accomplishments of the last quarter of this century is the increasing usage of software parametric models for resource estimation and project management. There is n especially wide familiarity of the COCOMO model across a range of academia, industry and government. The publication in 1981 of the original COCOMO model in Software Engineering Economics remains the one technical reference that everyone involved in this field of endeavor has on their bookshelf and is still in continuos usage. The development of the COCOMO II model encompasses key advances in software technology. This new textbook on COCOMO II as we enter this next millennium will fill the same crucial niche and should be a must as a companion volume on every bookshelf."—Marilee Wheaton, Director, Office of Cost Estimation, TRW Systems & Information Technology Group

"This book is the culmination of five years of partnering between the USC Center for Software Engineering and industrial experts in the field of software cost estimation. While not a replacement for Dr. Boehm's classic Software Engineering Economics, consider it a valuable and timely supplement focusing upon today's software products and processes."—Gary Thomas, Engineering Fellow, Raytheon

"…Barry Boehm's team-produced book is not simply about cost estimation, but a comprehensive and state-of-the-art view of the software engineering process. A great strength of the new book is Chapter 3, which presents detailed application examples. In the first example, Boehm revisits the Transaction Process System case study from the '81 Software Engineering Economics book and, while applying the new COCOMO II model, gives a practical, concise view of the last 20 years' progress in software engineering methodology. Another example, the Airborne Radar System design, demonstrates that the methods and tools taught are highly applicable to and useful in designing large, complex, real-time embedded systems as well."—Dr. Peter Hantos, Principal Scientist, Xerox Corporation

"Barry Boehm and his colleagues address the wide range of modern software development practices in their COCOMO II family of estimation models described in this book. The focus is primarily on estimating size, effort, and schedule. A quality model has also been included. This book is a 'must have' for every software estimator and cost analyst. Managers and instructors will also find it interesting and useful."—Richard D. Stutzke, Vice President, Science Applications International Corp

Product Description

Provides a thorough rework of the classic COCOMO model to address modern software processes and construction techniques. Also introduces emerging COCOMO II extensions for cost and schedule estimation of COTS integration and rapid development. CD-ROM contains a current copy of COCOMO II with demonstration version of three packages. DLC: Computer software--Costs.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR (August 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130266922
• ISBN-13: 978-0130266927
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #700,665 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stalwart of software engineering modeling, September 22, 2001

By	Daniel Mall "engineersoftware" (San Gabriel, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The latest revision of the well known COCOMO constructive cost model is calibrated with a Bayesian approach that balances 161 industry reference points with the determination of software development experts. Software engineers use the COCOMO model to make financial decisions, set project budgets and schedules, negotiate tradeoffs, plan to maintain or upgrade legacy products, and decide where to implement process improvement. The model equations are provided including normative calibration using 5 scale factors and 17post-architecture effort multipliers. The criteria described for assessing your project for scale factors and effort multipliers are fuzzy in some cases (Default to the nominal level when in doubt). The model can accept estimates of either logical lines of code or function points as the primary input parameter. The book is accompanied with a CD that contains the USC implementation of the COCOMO model and some instructional videos. The final 2/3 of the text covers emerging extensions such as object point data, application point data, phase schedule and effort model (COPSEMO), dynamic COCOMO, RAD schedule estimation model (CORADMO), commercial-off-the-shelf integration model (COCOTS), quality estimation (COQUALMO), and productivity estimation (COPROMO). Read "Software Engineering Economics" published in 1981 for additional background information on the COCOMO model.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb resource + tool, June 22, 2004

By	Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

I was first introduced to the precursor of CoCoMo II when I ftp'd a whitepaper on estimating from the old decwrl site maintained by DEC in the mid 1980s. That led me to Boehm's seminal book, "Software Engineering Economics", ISBN 0138221227. Over time CoCoMo started to show its age, especially in environments with heavy GUI development, so I opted for function points as my sole estimating technique. With experience I discovered that technique alone was useful for estimating scale, but was weak on sizing estimates. Version II of CoCoMo rectifies this, and this book is an exhaustive description of software cost estimating in general and CoCoMo version II in particular.

The contributing authors to this book read like who's who in software estimating, and the contents of this book will not only get you up-to-speed on using CoCoMo II as an estimating tool, but will also explain its inner workings, how to calibrate it, and its inherent strengths and weaknesses. Among the parts of this book that I found especially useful are Chapters 2, Model Definition, and 4, Calibration. These are the keys to understanding and using CoCoMo II to its best advantage. Real world examples are given in Chapter 3, and emerging extensions and future trends provided in chapter 5 and 6 round out the body of this book.

Significant added value is provided in the appendices and on the accompanying CD ROM. The appendices include how to use CoCoMo II in environments ranging from the older waterfall SDLC, RUP, incremental and iterative development, and give project planning considerations and data collection templates. The CD ROM itself contains a full working copy of the 2000 version of USC COCOMO II, complete documentation, and data collection forms, and trial copies of commercial versions of the application.

This book is one that every serious project manager, software engineer and cost estimator should read and keep in their work area.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disorganized, Written by a Committee, February 23, 2009

By	Arthur A. REYES "Ph.D. ICS UCI 1999" (Arlington, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book really was written by a committee: there are nine authors. This book is difficult to follow. It does not proceed in a gradual series of steps. Instead, each chapter re-establishes the foundation & context in its own way, often incompletely. This way, each of Dr. Boehm's students had a chance to document his or her thesis topic in the form of a book chapter. Unfortunately, this format does not work for readers who need to start using the data quickly. I'll stick with "Software Engineering Economics", thank you.