The February issue of the DACS Journal of Software Technology focuses on Software Cost Estimation and Systems Acquisition. My contribution, which you can read here, addresses the challenges faced by estimators and the value of establishing a historical baseline to support smarter planning, counter unrealistic expectations, and maximize productivity.
Using several recent studies, my paper addresses the following questions:
- What is estimation accuracy, and how important is it really?
- What is the connection between the Financial Crisis of 2008 and software estimation?
- Why do small team projects outperform large team projects?
- How can you find the optimal team size for your project?