Software Estimation using Function Point Analysis

Program Overview:
More than 50% of software projects fail because of time and cost overrun. Many such failures are traced back to poor estimation. Ad-hoc estimation can not only ruin the successful completion of a project, but also your career as a programmer or a project manager.

Software project estimation is a process of expectation setting that quantifies resource requirements, which are required to accomplish certain goals based upon certain clearly stated assumptions. It comprises of Size, Effort and Schedule estimations.

Function Point Analysis (FPA) proposed by IFPUG (International Function Point Users Group) is an industry leading software estimation technique which is also an ISO standard. Learning and following FPA by IFPUG could save you countless late night stays at office, and also could put you on a fast- track to promotion.

This two days hands-on workshop on FPA would demystify the notions about estimation and equip a software professional to handle the subject of estimation with improved accuracy to tide over the above said negative points.

Why is it so important for software development organization?
Business related:

• To make an effective project proposal document
• Basic step towards size, effort and schedule estimation of project management
• Helps to ensure a right delivery date to the customer
• Ensures right costing for management for a good profit margin
• Reduce the project failure rate, thus improving customer satisfaction

Career related:

• To have expertise in estimation
• To play pre-sale role effectively
• This skill would help one to move to the next senior level as early as possible
• To have job satisfaction
• To guide and monitor one's subordinates for a better output
• To complete the project in time with quality
• To have better understanding about software project management and functionality of the system

Eligibility Requirement:
Anyone with a degree/diploma having minimum of 1 year experience in Software development, Quality, Pre-sales, Marketing, Requirement engineering, Project/Program Management etc

Certificate:
Certificate of Participation will be issued by TechFeat Consulting

Participant Mix:

• Software Engineers
• Business Analysts
• Software Testers/ Test engineers
• IT Project Leader
• IT Team Leader
• IT Project Managers

Course content:
Day 1:
Forenoon Session:

• Introduction to Software Estimation
• Importance of domain or functional knowledge for right estimation
• Types of Estimation
  o Size Estimation
  o Effort Estimation
  o Schedule Estimation
• Function Point Analysis
  o History, Background
  o Benefits of FPA
  o Types of function point count
• Identifying application boundaries
• Elementary processes with Examples
• Data, Records and Files
• Transactional function Type
  o External Inputs (EI)
  o External Outputs (EO)
  o External Inquiry (EQ)
• Quiz

Afternoon Session:

• Identifying Data Element Type (DET))
• Identifying Record Elementary Type (RET)
• Data Function Type
  o Internal Logical File (ILF)
  o External Interface File (EIF)
• Identifying File Type Referenced (FTR)
• How to count unadjusted function point?
• Rating of components
• General System Characteristics(GSC) descriptions
• Calculation of Value Adjustment Factor(VAF)
• Calculation of Function Point
• Quiz

Day 2:
Forenoon Session:

• Software productivity
  o Productivity Measurement
  o Function Point to Person Months conversion
• Cost calculation for software development
• Major case study
  o Identification of Elementary processes
  o Identification of Data elements and Record elements
  o Counting and rating of EI, EO, EQ, ILF and EIF
  o Calculation of VAF for identified GSCs
  o Calculation of Function point
  o Conversion to Person Months
• Quiz

Afternoon Session:

• Group case study on mutually agreed topics with participants
  o Presentation of results by various groups.
• How to prepare a project plan?
  o Resource identification and allocation
  o Efforts distribution for all phases
  o Scheduling of tasks
• Quiz