programming (COCOMO) A method for evaluating the cost of a
software package proposed by Dr Barry Boehm. There are a
number of different types:
The Basic COCOMO Model estimates the effort required to
DSIs as an input. The Basic model is good for quick, early,
and rough order of magnitude estimates.
The Intermediate COCOMO Model an extension of the Basic COCOMO
effort equation than the Basic model. It produces better
results than the Basic model because the user supplies
settings for cost drivers that determine the effort and
duration of the software projects. The Intermediate model
also allows the system to be divided and estimated in
components. DSI values and cost drivers can be chosen for
individual components instead of for the system as a whole.
The Detailed COCOMO Model differs from the Intermediate COCOMO
model in that it uses effort multipliers for each phase of the
project. These phase dependent effort multipliers yield
better estimates because the
cost driver ratings may be
different during each phase. The detailed model also provides
a three-level product hierarchy and has some other
capabilities such as a procedure for adjusting the phase
distribution of the development schedule.
["Software Engineering Economics", B. Boehm, Prentice-Hall,
1981].
(1996-05-29)