Framework for Effort Estimation Using Use Case

Abstract

We cannot control what we cannot measure. Therefore in order to compare, to control and to predict we need software metrics. The need to improve productivity and software quality has put forward the research on software metrics technology.

Various object oriented metrics are proposed by the researchers each targeting a particular phase of software development life cycle which is divided into four phases - analysis, design, implementation, and testing. The main purpose of the metrics in analysis phase is estimation of the resources that might be needed for the software project.

Unfortunately, the software profession is notoriously inaccurate when estimating cost and schedule. Reliable early estimates are difficult to obtain because of the lack of detailed information about the future system at an early stage. However, early estimates are required when bidding for a contract or determining whether a project is feasible in the terms of a cost-benefit analysis.

The Unified Modeling Language (UML) has become the standard Object-Oriented design language in software engineering. An important part of the UML is the Use Case notation. Since Use Case modeling is increasingly being utilized as the method of choice to describe the software and system requirements and as a basis of design, development, testing, deployment, configuration management and maintenance; the attributes of a use case model may therefore serve as measures of th~ size and complexity of the functionality of a system. Many organizations use a system's use case model in the estimation process. Estimating software with use cases is still in the early stages. This thesis describes a "Framework for Effort Estimation using Use Case". It uses use case model, accompanied with environment and technical factors, to estimate the resources that is needed for the software project. This thesis also provides the various guidelines for assigning values to the various environmental and technical factors. These factors are very important while estimating the effort.