Software Sizing, Estimation, and Risk Management: When Performance is Measured Performance Improves is a practical, hands-on discussion of the software estimation, planning, and control process. This includes critical factors that impact estimates, methods for selecting and applying appropriate measures to projects, proper software sizing, and processes to identify and manage risk. The authors use their expertise in sizing, estimation, process engineering, and risk management to clearly demonstrate problems that make many estimates crumble and solutions that provide successful project plans. The book offers insight not available anywhere else, enabling readers to recognize and avoid downstream impacts resulting from poor estimates.

The authors of this book, Daniel Galorath and Michael Evans, are both highly experienced estimators and project managers. Much of this book is devoted to their helping you understand and apply these “under the tip of the iceberg” activities. Their ten-step approach to software estimation provides a logical progression of estimation activities that help you avoid these sources of project overruns and failures.

The book naturally focuses on the use of Galorath Incorporated’s SEERSEM software cost model to address software estimation activities. But it does so in the context of advice to use multiple perspectives in size, cost, and schedule estimation. And it provides a lot of valuable information about the SEER-SEM cost and size drivers that are often not available for proprietary cost models. It also shows how to use your estimation and project tracking data to improve your estimation accuracy and to identify the best investments for improving your software productivity and cycle time. Investing in acquiring this book and following its advice is highly likely to provide you with a robust return on your investment.