2. References
SEI report: Carnegie Mellon University,
Software Engineering Institute Special
Report, CMU/SEI-95-SR-004
QSM’s Exhibit A: A Manager’s checklist for
validating software cost and schedule
estimates. www.qsm.com
3. Software Estimation Checklist
Estimate Objectives
Are the objectives of the estimate clear and correct and in
writing?
Is the lifecycle been clearly defined?
Are included and excluded tasks clearly defined and are the task
objectives consistent with the objectives of the estimate?
Has the task been appropriately sized?
Has a structured process been used to estimate the size of the
product and size of the reuse?
Is the process documented?
Are the definitions, measures, and rules used to describe the
size and reuse consistent with the requirements of the model
used to estimate cost and schedule?
4. Software Estimation Checklist
Are the estimated cost and schedule consistent with demonstrated
accomplishments on other projects?
Is there a structured process and/or estimation tool in use for relating
estimates to actual costs and schedules of complete work? In writing?
Was it followed?
Have the costs and schedule models that were used been calibrated to
relevant historical data?
Have the factors that affect the estimate been identified and
explained?
A written summary of parameter values and their rationales should
accompany the estimate.
Have all assumptions been identified and explained.
Have all uncertainties in parameter values been identified and
quantified?
Has a risk analysis been performed, and risks that affect cost of
schedule been identified and documented?
5. Software Estimation Checklist
Have steps been taken to ensure the integrity of the estimating
process?
Have the groups that will be doing the work accepted the estimate as
an achievable target?
Have people from related but different projects or disciplines been
involved in preparing the estimate and have memorandums of
agreement been completed and signed with those organizations whose
contributions will affect cost or schedule?
Is the organization’s historical evidence capable of supporting a
reliable estimate?
Is there a historical database of completed projects that was generated
from captured effort and cost data while a project was ongoing?
Have past projects held postmortems at the completion of a project to
capture the events that affected costs and schedules?
6. Software Estimation Checklist
Has the situation changed since the
estimate was prepared?
Has the estimate been invalidated by recent
events, changing requirements, or
management action (or inaction)?
Is the estimate being used as the basis for
assigning resources, deploying schedules, and
making commitments?