TM10 Evaluating and Selecting
TM10 Evaluating and Selecting
Administration Level IV
Based on November, 2023 Curriculum Version-II
November, 2023
Acronym................................................................................................................................................2
Self-check 2.........................................................................................................................................32
Self-check 3.........................................................................................................................................65
Self-check 4.........................................................................................................................................87
Self-Check 5.......................................................................................................................................103
Self-check 6.......................................................................................................................................113
Reference..........................................................................................................................................120
Developer’s Profile............................................................................................................................121
Acronym
WBS …………………………………………………Work Breakdown Structure
EVM …………………………………………………Earned Value Management
SLOC …………………………………………………Source Lines of Code
SLA ……………………………………………………Service Level Agreement
SDLC ………………………………………………….Software Development Life Cycle
This unit is developed to provide you the necessary information regarding the following content
coverage and topics:
Overview of Project Cost Estimation
Understanding Project Requirements
Key Components of Project Scope Definition:
Importance of Accurate Cost Estimation
This unit will also assist you to attain the learning outcomes stated in the cover page.
Specifically, upon completion of this learning guide, you will be able to:
Identify and comprehend the various components contributing to project costs
Communicate effectively to collaborate with team members and stakeholders
Identify project goals, deliverables, constraints, and success criteria.
Determine the necessary personnel, technology, and other resources needed to meet project
objectives.
Identify potential risks early in the planning phase.
Align project deliverables with client expectations, ensuring that the final outcome meets or
exceeds quality standards.
Competitive Advantage:
Importance: Accurate cost estimation allows organizations to competitively price their
services or products.
Impact: Enhances competitiveness in the market by offering realistic and attractive
pricing without compromising profitability.
Quality Assurance:
Importance: A well-estimated budget supports the implementation of quality assurance
measures.
Impact: Ensures that adequate resources are allocated for testing and quality control,
preventing issues that may lead to additional costs later in the project.
Client and Stakeholder Satisfaction:
Importance: Accurate cost estimates contribute to client and stakeholder satisfaction.
Impact: Minimizes the risk of unexpected costs and scope changes, leading to a more
positive project experience for all involved parties.
Project Success Metrics:
Importance: The accuracy of cost estimation is a key metric for evaluating project
success.
Impact: Provides a benchmark against which the project's financial performance can be
measured, helping organizations learn and improve for future projects.
Funding and Investment Decisions:
Importance: Accurate cost estimates support funding and investment decisions.
Impact: Influences the decision-making of stakeholders, investors, and financial
institutions, facilitating project financing and investment.
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Client Expectations Management:
Importance: Accurate cost estimation helps manage client expectations.
Impact: Allows organizations to set realistic expectations regarding project deliverables
and costs, minimizing the risk of dissatisfaction.
In summary, accurate cost estimation is fundamental to the success of website and database
projects. It ensures financial stability, effective resource allocation, and informed decision-
making, ultimately contributing to the achievement of project objectives and client
satisfaction.
Self –check 1
Part I: Write true if the statement is correct and false if it wrong
1. Accurate cost estimation is primarily essential for project planning, budgeting, and ensuring
successful project outcomes.
2. Project scope definition involves specifying tangible outputs, features, and functionalities, as well
as identifying project exclusions, constraints, and assumptions.
3. Iterative nature in requirement analysis acknowledges that project requirements may evolve as the
project progresses, necessitating flexible documentation.
This unit is developed to provide you the necessary information regarding the following
content coverage and topics:
Understanding Project Scope
Types of Website and Database Projects
Differentiating Between Website and Database Components
Project Life Cycle Overview
This unit will also assist you to attain the learning outcomes stated in the cover page.
Specifically, upon completion of this learning guide, you will be able to:
Understanding of the basic concepts and components of website and database projects.
Distinguish between the elements specific to websites and databases, understanding
their roles and interactions in a project.
Comprehend the various phases of a website and database project lifecycle
Identify and categorize key cost components involved in website and database projects
Understand how to efficiently allocate resources, including personnel, technology, and
infrastructure, to meet project requirements.
Example:
Consider a small business that needs a database to store and manage customer information,
purchase history, and inventory. The database design includes tables for customers, orders,
and products with straightforward relationships.
2. Medium to Large-Sized Database System:
Description:
A medium to large-sized database project involves handling a significant amount of data
with more complex relationships.
It may include advanced features like data indexing, stored procedures, and triggers.
Influence on Cost:
Database design becomes more intricate, requiring careful consideration of
normalization and indexing.
Query optimization efforts increase, impacting development time.
Comprehensive testing and performance tuning are necessary.
Example:
Imagine a medium-sized e-commerce platform with a database that manages a large product
catalog, customer data, and order information. The database design involves multiple
interconnected tables, and the system requires advanced querying for reporting and analytics.
3.Enterprise-Level Database System:
Description:
An enterprise-level database project involves managing extensive datasets with complex
relationships, multiple users, and high transaction volumes.
It may include features like data warehousing, replication, and distributed databases.
Influence on Cost:
Database design is highly sophisticated, considering scalability and redundancy.
Advanced security measures, including encryption, are essential.
Extensive testing, optimization, and ongoing maintenance efforts are required.
Example:
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Consider an enterprise-level database project for a multinational corporation with a need for a
comprehensive Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. The database must
handle a vast amount of customer data, support multiple users globally, and ensure high
availability and performance.
Considerations for Cost Estimation:
1. Development Effort:
The effort required for coding, testing, and debugging increases with project size and
complexity.
2. Resource Allocation:
Larger and more complex projects may require a larger development team with
specialized skills, influencing labor costs.
3. Infrastructure and Technology:
Advanced features and scalability requirements may necessitate specific infrastructure
and technologies, impacting costs.
4. Testing and Quality Assurance:
Comprehensive testing efforts, including unit testing, integration testing, and user
acceptance testing, are essential for larger and more complex projects.
5. Project Management:
The complexity of project management increases with project size, requiring more
sophisticated planning, monitoring, and coordination efforts.
Understanding the nuances of project size and complexity is crucial for accurate cost estimation.
Regularly revisiting and updating cost estimates throughout the project life cycle ensures that
the budget aligns with the evolving requirements and challenges of the project.
9.Testing Frameworks:
Unit Testing:
Example: Jest (JavaScript), Pytest (Python).
Description: Ensures individual components function as intended.
End-to-End Testing:
Example: Cypress, Selenium.
Description: Tests the entire application's workflow from end to end.
10.Deployment and Containerization:
Containerization:
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Example: Docker.
Description: Packages applications and their dependencies into containers for
consistent deployment.
Orchestration:
Example: Kubernetes.
Description: Manages containerized applications, automates deployment, and
scales applications.
By carefully considering the technology stack for a website or database project, project
stakeholders can make informed decisions that align with project goals, scalability
requirements, and budget constraints. Regularly revisiting and updating cost estimates based
on any changes to the technology stack ensures that the budget remains accurate and reflective
of the evolving project needs.
Mitigation Strategies:
1. Thorough Research and Due Diligence:
Conduct extensive research on external dependencies to understand potential costs,
limitations, and risks.
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2. Clear Communication and Documentation:
Maintain clear communication with external vendors, teams, or regulatory bodies. Document
agreements, expectations, and dependencies.
3. Regular Monitoring and Updates:
Continuously monitor external dependencies throughout the project life cycle, updating cost
estimates as needed.
4. Flexibility in Planning:
Build flexibility into project plans to accommodate potential delays or changes related to
external dependencies.
5. Collaborative Relationships:
Foster collaborative relationships with external vendors and teams to facilitate smoother
communication and issue resolution.
6. Scenario Planning:
Develop contingency plans and scenarios to account for different outcomes related to
external dependencies.
By understanding the nature of external dependencies and considering their potential impact on
the project, project managers can create more accurate and realistic cost estimates. Regularly
revisiting and updating these estimates as the project progresses and external factors evolve
ensures that the budget remains aligned with the project's needs and challenges.
Self-check 3
Part I: Write true if the statement is correct and false if it is wrong.
1. Project Size and Complexity are Insignificant Factors in Cost Estimation.
2. A Content Management System (CMS) is Essential for All Website Projects.
3. Data Migration Tools are Exclusively Used in Database Projects.
4. The Choice of Frontend Frameworks Does Not Impact Website Development Costs.
5. Query Language SQL is Specific to NoSQL Databases.
Part II: Choose the correct answer
1. Which of the following is a key factor influencing cost estimation for both website and
database projects?
A) Weather conditions C) Marketing strategy
B) Project size and complexity D) Employee satisfaction
2. In a medium to large-sized e-commerce website project, what is a significant factor influencing costs?
A) Limited features and functionalities C) Short development time
B) Integration with third-party services D) Basic user authenticatio
3. What is the purpose of a technology stack in web development?
A) Creating project timelines C) Choosing software tools and
B) Managing financial resources components
D) Conducting user testing
4. Which functional requirement is crucial for an e-commerce website project?
This unit is developed to provide you the necessary information regarding the following content
coverage and topics:
Expert Judgment
Analogous Estimation
Parametric Estimation
Three-Point Estimation
Bottom-Up Estimation
This unit will also assist you to attain the learning outcomes stated in the cover page.
Specifically, upon completion of this learning guide, you will be able to:
Gain knowledge about different cost estimation methods
Identify the strengths, weaknesses, and best-use scenarios for each method.
Comprehend the role of subject matter experts (SMEs) in providing insights for cost
estimation.
Understand how analogous estimation relies on historical data from similar projects.
Understand the identification of parameters, historical data analysis, and development of
mathematical models in parametric estimation.
Develop critical thinking skills to assess the suitability of different cost estimation methods
based on project characteristics.
3. Quantitative Approach:
The method provides a quantitative and systematic approach to cost estimation, which
can enhance objectivity and reduce subjectivity in the estimation process.
4. Data-Driven Decision-Making:
Parametric estimation relies on historical data and statistical analysis, facilitating data-
driven decision-making in cost estimation.
Challenges and Considerations:
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1. Data Availability:
The accuracy of parametric estimation depends on the availability and quality of
historical data. Limited or unreliable data can compromise the effectiveness of the
method.
2. Complexity of Relationships:
Some projects may involve complex relationships between parameters and costs that
are challenging to capture accurately in a parametric model.
3. Assumption of Linearity:
Parametric models often assume linear relationships between parameters and costs. In
reality, relationships may be nonlinear, and the model's accuracy may decrease in such
cases.
4. Project Specifics:
While adjustments can be made, parametric estimation may struggle to fully account
for project-specific factors that are not explicitly included in the model.
5. Maintenance of Models:
Updating and maintaining parametric models over time requires ongoing efforts to
ensure they remain accurate and reflective of changing project characteristics.
6. Expertise Requirements:
Developing and using parametric estimation models requires expertise in statistical
analysis and modeling. Organizations need skilled individuals to effectively
implement this method.
In summary, parametric estimation is a valuable method that leverages statistical relationships
between historical data and project parameters to estimate costs. It is efficient, consistent, and
provides a quantitative approach to cost estimation. However, its effectiveness is contingent
on the availability of reliable historical data and the ability to develop accurate parametric
models that capture the relationships between parameters and costs.
Self-check4
Part I: Write true if the statement is correct and false if it is wrong.
1. Expert judgment in cost estimation relies on the knowledge, experience, and insights of individuals or a
group of experts.
This unit is developed to provide you the necessary information regarding the following content
coverage and topics:
Development Costs
Infrastructure Costs
Maintenance and Support Costs
Contingency Costs
This unit will also assist you to attain the learning outcomes stated in the cover page.
Specifically, upon completion of this learning guide, you will be able to:
Develop a comprehensive understanding of the concept of cost components breakdown in the
context of project management.
Recognize the significance of detailed analysis and categorization in understanding financial
resource allocation.
Understand the specific elements of development costs in the context of a website and
database project.
Comprehend the nature of infrastructure costs in the context of a website and database
project.
Understand the ongoing expenses associated with maintaining and supporting a website and
its underlying database.
Recognize the importance of contingency costs in project cost estimation.
Self-check 6
Part I: Write true if the statement is correct and false if it is wrong.
1. Project management software can assist in tracking labor costs associated with each task by
breaking down the project into activities.
2. Time tracking functionality in project management software is essential for monitoring project
timelines but does not contribute to accurate labor cost estimation.
3. Git is an example of a centralized version control system widely used for tracking changes in
source code during software development.
4. True/False: Collaboration and communication tools, such as Slack and Microsoft Teams, are
essential for effective teamwork and streamlining communication in website and database projects.
5. Cost estimation platforms like CostOS and Candy offer specialized features for project
management, including task and activity management, making them versatile tools for overall
project coordination.
Part II:Choose the correct answer
1. Which functionality in project management software is crucial for estimating personnel costs?
A) Time Tracking B) Resource Allocation
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C) Cost Tracking and Budgeting D) Collaboration and Communication
2. Which version control system is known for its speed, flexibility, and branching capabilities,
making it highly popular in web development projects?
A) Subversion (SVN) B) Mercurial C) Git D) Bitbucket
3. What is the primary purpose of using collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams in a
project?
A) Version control C) Effective teamwork and communication
B) Code debugging D) Infrastructure setup
4. Which tool is commonly used for estimating costs related to cloud services in website and
database projects?
A) GitLab B) AWS Pricing Calculator C) Jira D) Trello
5. In version control systems, what is the purpose of branching, allowing the isolation of features
or bug fixes?
A) Managing project budgets C) Facilitating collaboration
B) Conflict resolution D) Isolating changes in development lines
Reference
Books:
1. "Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art" by Steve McConnell:
2. "The Art of Project Management" by Scott Berkun:
3. "Estimating Software Costs: Bringing Realism to Estimating" by Capers Jones:
Online Resources:
1. SEER by Galorath:
SEER is a suite of software estimation tools. Their website also features insightful
articles and resources on cost estimation.
2. ProjectManagement.com:
ProjectManagement.com offers a wealth of articles, webinars, and templates related to
project management and estimation.
3. IEEE Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK):