Project Estimation: Size, Efforts and Duration

Unlock the secrets to accurate project estimation with our "Project Estimation: Size and Labor Efforts" course. Estimation errors are common pitfalls in software development, leading to overtime work, missed deadlines, budget overruns, and client dissatisfaction. This course delves deep into proven techniques and industry best practices to ensure precise project estimations, mitigate risks, and enhance competitive advantage.

This comprehensive course covers:

Key Principles of Effective Estimation: Understanding chaos in software development, defining key concepts, improving estimation accuracy, and establishing an effective estimation process.
Estimation Techniques: Expert method, method by analogy, function points method, use case points method, statistical indicators utilization, and estimation in Agile projects.
Avoiding Mistakes: Identifying and avoiding common estimation errors for better project planning and execution.

Many managers admit that errors in estimation are one of the most common causes of problems in software development projects. Underestimation of the project size, efforts, and/or duration may cause large-scale overtime work, a lot of stress for all process participants, failure to meet deadlines, risk of over-budgeting, customer dissatisfaction, and even loss of business reputation. On the other hand, overestimation frequently leads to the loss of competitive advantage (an essential part of business). There is just one way out: “to shoot in the eye” or to provide estimations of high accuracy.

But how can this be achieved? The software industry has accumulated some extensive practical experience in conducting accurate estimations. Moreover, there are a number of well-known approaches to:

• Maintain applicability of the estimation in case of any changes in the project;
• Achieve the required accuracy of estimation even under conditions of high uncertainty of customer requirements;
• Timely identify problems in estimation.

This training is dedicated to a detailed analysis of this experience and its applicability in specific conditions.

During the training, the process of estimating software development projects and all activities, problems, and errors connected with it will be considered in detail. Together with the rich experience accumulated in this field by Luxoft, we will discuss the techniques for estimating project size, efforts, and duration, the main problems of estimation, and the role of metrics in estimation. Also, the course provides recommendations on how to select estimation techniques taking into account project specifics and organizes the estimation process in a way that allows the achievement of required accuracy.

Upon completing the course, participants will:

Establish Effective Estimation Processes: Design a systematic approach to project estimation, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
Adapt estimation processes to fit project dynamics and organizational requirements.
Master Estimation Techniques: Utilize expert methods and analogies for precise project size and labor effort estimations.
Apply function points and use case points methods to assess project complexity and resource requirements.
Utilize Statistical Indicators: Leverage metrics to track project progress and identify deviations for timely corrective actions.
Enhance Agile Estimation: Apply Agile estimation principles to enhance flexibility and responsiveness in project planning.
Avoid Estimation Mistakes:
Identify and avoid common pitfalls in project estimation, such as underestimation and overestimation.
Implement strategies to mitigate risks associated with inaccurate estimations.

After the training, the participants will be able to:

• Establish a robust software project estimation process tailored to project and organizational needs.
• Enhance flexibility in the estimation process to adapt to changing project requirements.
• Select and apply various estimation techniques with precision.
• Avoid typical estimation mistakes that lead to project delays and budget overruns.
• Translate theoretical knowledge into practical skills for accurate project estimation.

• Key principles of effective estimation:

Software Development – is Chaos Inevitable? (theory 1h; practice 2h)

Key Definitions (theory 2h; practice 0h)

Improving Estimation Accuracy (theory 1,5h; practice 0,5h)

Estimation Process (theory 2h; practice 0h)

Typical Estimation Mistakes (theory 1h; practice 0h)

• Expert Method and Method by Analogy:

Expert Method (theory 1,5h; practice 1h)

Method “By Analogy” (theory 0,5h; practice 0h)

3) The Function Points Method - Brief Overview (theory 0,5h; practice 0h)

4) The Use Case Points Method (theory 2,5h; practice 1h)

5) Use of Statistical Indicators (Metrics) (theory 1,5h; practice 0h)

6) Estimation in Agile Projects (theory 1h; practice 0,5h)

Total: theory 15h (75%); practice 5h (25%)