Cosmic Points based Estimation model
COSMIC measurement method for sizing software has been developed by Common Software Measurement International Consortium. The sizing unit for this method is called Cosmic Points. It is used to size the software’s functional requirements. Though software size has been used for many purposes, estimating software projects is a popular use of software size. RASS Estimate provides five software sizing methods and Cosmic Points is one of these methods.
RASS Estimate has included two estimation models that take the Cosmic Points as the size input and calculate estimates of effort, cost, price, schedule and resources.
1) Productivity based Bottom-up Estimation Model: This model calculates the effort estimates by multiplying Cosmic Points by a productivity rate as hours per Cosmic Point.
2) COCOMO-II based Top-down Estimation Model: In this model Cosmic Points are converted to COCOMO's Size parameter by multiplying unadjusted Cosmic Points with a gearing factor.
The estimates from both of these models are available in the same estimation sheet but only one is linked to Cost and Price sheet at a time. There is a provision for viewing estimates from both of these models side by side.
The following are other main features of Cosmic Points based Estimation models.
Model has implemented the counting of Cosmic Points through a custom template with focus on speed of counting Cosmic Points.
Creating the Functional Process Breakdown Structures (FPBS)
Manual rapid counting of Cosmic Points and the provision to automate the estimation of Cosmic Points
Programming Languages have been associated with domain profiles.
You can use multiple programming languages with ease for estimating
Data related to Programming Languages is maintained centrally in Programming Language Master table
Productivity Rates are associated with Domain Profiles which are based on historical data
Use of outsource profiles to estimate the outsource cost. Outsource Profiles are defined and maintained centrally
Calculation of Schedule Estimates based the combined effort estimates from all estimation models used by the project
Reports based on integrated estimates from all configured models as well as individual model
The model is easy to use. Action buttons are used to perform various tasks.
Preconfigured generic project profiles to tailor new estimation projects to reducing the model configuration tasks to minimum.