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CoCuSi Estimation Model  
 
For further details you can download these references:  MS Word Document        MS Power Point Presentation
 
CoCuSi is an abbreviation of “Cost Curve Simulation”. It is an estimation model targeted to produce Ballpark or ROM (Rough Order of Magnitude) Estimates quickly for budgeting, planning and bidding purposes. CoCuSi model is suitable for estimating all types IT projects such as Software, Infrastructure, Service projects. However, it can be customised to suit non IT projects.
 
During early stage of the project life cycle, the requirements are not firmed up and many of the available formal estimation methods can not be applied as sizing is not possible. Many organizations do not have a metrics measurement function which is essential for the success of most formal estimation methods. It is difficult for experts to come up with estimates in terms of absolute numbers at a very short notice and burning only few person-hours of effort. Experts are relatively at ease to say with respect to a base project  if the cost of a part of the new project will be same, higher or lower when rated on parameters such as size, complexities, uncertainties and dependencies. 
 
CoCuSi model has devised ways to use the historical costs data patterns and Experts’ qualitative inputs on cost influencers (Size, Complexity, Uncertainty etc) to produce estimates quickly and reliably, requiring few person-hours of effort and at an acceptable level of estimation accuracy. 
 

 

The following gaphics shows the building blocks of how RASS Estimate has implemented the CoCuSi model.

 

The graphics on the left shows the CoCuSi model’s high level conceptual view.  This is not the implementation view that RASS Estimate has used. This is only to explain the primary concept behind the CoCuSi model.

 

The CoCo Cards are the back bone of the CoCuSi model. CoCo is an abbreviation of “Cost Component”. A CoCo Card may represents one or more Cost Components. A a part of the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) can be identified as a CoCo Card. A CoCo Card may represent an artefact or a subsystem or a group of tasks. Within a part of the CBS representing a CoCo Card, the next sub level items are called Cost Components. An organization can conceptualize the cost components as per it's needs.

 

Proper conceptualization of the CoCo Cards is essential for the successful implementation of the CoCuSi model. CoCo Cards are created based on historical costs data and allows organization specific implementation of the CoCuSi model.

 

Cost Curve simulation is the basis of constructing CoCo Cards. Simulated Cost Curves are translated into Cost Profiles. 

 

 

CoCuSi model uses qualitative inputs from experts to rate the cost drivers and produce estimates quickly, requiring few person-hours of effort and at an acceptable level of estimation accuracy.

 

 

Though RASS Estimate allows an organization to have its own implementation of CoCuSi model, the two sample implementation have been included in RASS Estimate. Click the following links for further details on these two implementations that you can customise and use.

 

1)  The model that estimate first effort and then cost. This implementation has been applied to estimate the cost of Software development, enhancements and changes. This model is called as Software CoCo Cards based Estimation model.

 

2)  The model that directly estimates the cost. This implementation has been applied to IT Infrastructure, Services and Training. This is called as IT Infrastructure CoCo Cards based Estimation  model.

 

 

Estimating with CoCuSi model is as simple as 1 2 3 and it happens like a magic.

 

Step-1: Based on the understanding of the requirements and the resulting impact assessment, a group of Experts comprising Solution Architects, Business Analysts and Project managers identify the impacted CoCo Cards.

 

Step-2: The impacted CoCo Cards are then pulled from the CoCo Cards master into a separate work area. The pulled CoCo Cards contain the Cost Components and the associated Cost Profiles. Implementation of this step may look like selecting items by ticking a list.


Step-3: Now experts rate the Cost Drivers associated with Cost Profiles of all Cost Components on a five point grade scale. The additional information for the analysis purpose is also entered at stage.

 

That’s it. Estimates are ready. The whole estimation process takes about 1 to 2 hours of 4 to 6 experts deliberating in a meeting.

 

 

The following is a screen shot from RASS Estimate that shows the implementation of the CoCuSi model for estimating Software Cost. The look and feel of the implementation for IT Infrastructure, Services and Training is very similar.

 

 

 

For further details you can download these references:  MS Word Document        MS Power Point Presentation